Aug. 17, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky men’s soccer team will open up its 19th season, beginning with a two-match exhibition season, including a Monday match at Dayton, facing off with the Flyers at 7 p.m. ET at Baujan Field.

The Wildcats are coming off a third-place Conference USA finish in 2007, and return a large portion of its roster from a 7-10-2, 5-3 season. UK defender Barry Rice, the 2007 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, senior midfielder Masumi Turnbull, midfielder Jase Griffiths and veteran keeper Dan Williams all will help lead a veteran, athletic UK team in 2008.

A year ago, UK battled significant injury issues, missing as many as 14 members of the regular playing rotation. The Wildcats salvaged the season despite the worst start in program history, posting a solid conference finish. UK registered the biggest win in school annals during 2007, a 2-1 comeback win over No. 1 SMU in November in a nationally televised contest.

UK and Dayton squared off last year in an exhibition game, a 1-1 tie. Turnbull and midfielder Chad Hagerty hooked up on the lone Wildcat goal of the game, a Turnbull header.

The game will be the first of the two-match exhibition season for the Wildcats, as UK will host power West Virginia at the UK Soccer Complex on August 23 at 7 p.m. ET. UK opens its regular season with the annual UK Invitational, squaring off with Central Arkansas on August 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET.