ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Kentucky men?s soccer team travels to No. 18 Michigan for the University of Michigan Invitational, beginning with a Friday evening game with the Wolverines. The tournament pits the Wildcats against Michigan on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, and on Sunday UK faces off with Michigan State at Noon.
Kentucky (1-2-1) has been bitten severely by the injury bug this season, as five returning starters from the Wildcats 14-win 2006 campaign have missed time due to injury. Among the notable UK starters missing time with an injury include, Andrew Alexander (Sr., D), Bingy Lara (Jr., MF), and Jase Griffiths (So., MF). Senior Nathan Marks, the Conference-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, missed the Wildcats last game with Cleveland State on Sunday due to injury. Freshman forward Luke Maitland and Lucas Carden (So., MF) have also missed time this season.
Pacing a depleted Wildcat squad has been senior transfer Aaron Swanson, who leads UK in scoring, having netted three goals in UK?s four games. Swanson, a forward who played for Dayton previously, has emerged as a legitimate scoring threat, firing a team-high eight shots, including four on goal. Swanson ranks tied for first in C-USA with points and is tied for first with Tulsa?s Todd Goodard in goals.
Fellow transfer Tim Crone has also emerged as an offensive threat, netting a goal in each of UK?s past two contests. Crone, a 5-foot-7 forward, scored the Wildcats lone goal in a 1-1 tie to Cleveland State on Sunday. Crone, a Cincinnati native, netted the first goal of the contest against rival Louisville last week. Barry Rice, a member of the 2006 C-USA All-Tournament team and C-USA 2006 All-Freshman team, netted his first goal of the season in a 3-0 win over UNC-Asheville.
Defensively, UK has been anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Dan Williams, a 2006 C-USA All-Freshman team selection, who leads the C-USA in saves with 25.
The Wildcats own an all-time 0-3 record against Michigan, with UK?s last setback coming in a 1-0 overtime loss at the UK Soccer Complex last season. The loss marked UK?s lone home loss of the season last year. Kentucky and Michigan State will be meeting for the first time.
