ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sophomore Barry Rice headed in his second goal of the season for the Kentucky men?s soccer team, as the Wildcats battled the undefeated Michigan State Spartans to a 1-1 tie, on Sunday afternoon at the University of Michigan Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (1-3-2) rebounded in its final game of the UM Invitational, after suffering a loss to No. 18 Michigan on Friday night. The Wildcats utilized a physical style of play in a contest that featured a total of 38 fouls and six yellow cards between the two teams.
Rice, a 2006 Conference USA All-Freshman team selection from his defender post, put the Wildcats on the board in the 19th minute, taking a cross from freshman midfielder Jirijoonas Kanth and heading the ball into the center of the net, past the Spartan keeper Chris Austin. The goal marked Rice?s second of the season and the third of his career. Kanth, a native of Vantaa, Finland, delivered his second assist of the season. Kanth set up Kentucky?s previous goal, a Tim Crone goal against Cleveland State.
Michigan State (5-0-1) had only allowed two goals in its five games entering the Sunday afternoon tilt with the Wildcats.
The Spartans didn?t waste anytime in responding to the Wildcat goal early in the contest, as Josh Rogers, a junior defender, nailed a penalty kick in the 39th minute, knotting the teams at 1-1 heading into halftime.
Wildcat keeper Dan Williams totaled four saves in his 110 minutes in the net. Austin, the MSU goalkeeper totaled three saves.
MSU outshot UK 15-8 in the match, as the Wildcats failed to register a shot in either overtime period. The Spartans tallied five corner kicks to UK?s four.
Kentucky has been playing through some severe injury issues, as several members of the regular playing rotation have missed significant time rehabbing injury. Luke Maitland (Fr., F), Andrew Alexander (Sr., D), Lucas Carden (So., MF), Bingy Lara (Jr., MF) and preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Marks (Sr., MF) have all missed time this season due to injury.
The game marked a return from injury for midfield mainstay Jase Griffiths. Griffiths, a sophomore from Bracknell, England, started 16 games for a 14-win Wildcat squad in 2006, finishing tied for third on the team with four goals and ranking tied for second on the club with six assists. Griffiths registered the start and fired three shots, including one on goal. Griffiths picked up a yellow card and joined four other Wildcats to get booked, including Rice, Marks, Matt Weiler, and Masumi Turnbull.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday, as it plays host to Eastern Illinois in a 7 p.m. ET matchup at the UK Soccer Complex.
