LEXINGTON, Ky. — David Browning and Matt Bouraee each netted goals for the Cornell Big Red, as the Kentucky men?s soccer team dropped its season-opening match 2-0, in front of 959 fans on a beautiful Friday evening at the Kentucky Soccer Complex.
The loss is just Kentucky?s second home loss in its past two years, as the Wildcats posted a school record 10-1 mark on its home pitch during a 14-win 2006 season. Kentucky falls to 8-8-1 all-time in season openers, ending a two-game winning streak.
Kentucky (0-1) got a 13-save performance from goalkeeper Dan Williams but the Big Red onslaught was too much for the Wildcat defense, as UK allowed goals in each period. The first goal, coming off the head of Browning, came after Williams saved two consecutive shots forcing him out of position, as Browning headed the ball into the back of the net. Cornell?s second goal came in the 76th minute on a counterattack, as Bouraee dribbled from midfield and squeaked a low shot past a diving Williams.
The Wildcats struggled to find scoring opportunities, registering only three shots on goal to Cornell?s nine. UK totaled eight corner kicks, compared to the Big Red?s six, but the Wildcats were unable to find its target.
UK got a strong performance from 2006 Conference USA All-Freshman team member Barry Rice, who worked to control the hot-shooting Big Red from his backline position. Rice, a sophomore from Parma, Ohio, totaled a team-high three shots, including one which narrowly missed, hitting the crossbar on a long-range shot from midfield. Rice also helped set up his teammates on several free kick opportunities.
Cornell (1-0) Big Red keeper Luca Cerretani totaled five saves, handcuffing the Wildcat offense through 90 minutes, improving to 1-0 on the campaign.
In game one of the UK Invitational, UNC-Asheville topped IUPUI in a 4-3 slugfest. The Bulldogs got a two-goal performance from Scott Szymanski, while IUPUI?s Vangel Nacvski also delivered two goals.
The University of Kentucky Invitational continues on Sunday at the UK Soccer Complex, as IUPUI and Cornell square off with the first match, set for Noon ET. The Wildcats will return to the pitch Sunday to face UNC-Asheville at 2:30 p.m. UK owns an 8-0 all-time mark against UNC-Asheville, including a 5-0 win in 2006.
