Aug. 23, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Taking the home pitch at the UK Soccer Complex for the first time since a stunning upset of the No. 1-ranked team in the nation last November, the Kentucky men’s soccer team dominated 100 minutes of play with No. 15 West Virginia, securing a scoreless tie in its final exhibition game of the preseason, on Friday evening.
Kentucky controlled play for the entire game, outshooting WVU 16-2, including a 6-0 total in the first half. The Wildcats had a cadre of opportunities to secure the win, as WVU did not register a shot until the 52nd minute. UK totaled six corner kicks to the Mountaineers two, totaling three in each the first and second period. Of the Wildcats 16 shots, six were on goal, forcing WVU keeper Zach Johnson to make several impressive saves.
The Wildcats got multiple shots from five players, including freshman forward Taylor White, who led the team with four, including one on goal. Sam Vernalls and Marco dos Santos finished with three shots each, while Conference USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Barry Rice and freshman George Davis IV finished with two shots.
Kentucky’s steady keeper, Dan Williams toiled 71:45 minutes in between the pipes, before senior Grant Ward relieved him and worked 28:15 minutes of scoreless soccer. WVU’s Johnson worked the entire 100 minutes, saving six shots.
UK had several opportunities in the first half, including a Chad Hagerty shot in the seventh minute that slide through the defense and necessitated a Johnson save.
In the 11th minute, Vernalls fired a shot that soared high of the net, and dos Santos narrowly missed a goal in the 14th, when his header missed wide.
Dos Santos had another shot in the 21st minute, when he went tracking a ball near the boundary and slipped a shot towards the net that just missed crossing the goal by inches, with the keeper out of the box.
Again in the 61st minute, dos Santos found himself free on a breakaway, but his shot missed wide right.
In the 71st minute, Bingy Lara fired a shot from about 10 yards out that missed wide right and Davis IV fired a shot wide in the 88th that Johnson kept from sneaking in the net.
UK played a total of 19 players in its final preseason tune-up, after playing 24 total in its first exhibition at Dayton.
Kentucky opens its 2008 season on Friday with the annual UK Invitational, held at the UK Soccer Complex. UK will face Central Arkansas on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
