Sept. 17, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Behind goals from freshman Marco dos Santos and junior All-American defender Barry Rice, the Kentucky men’s soccer team utilized a strong second-half to secure a dominating 2-1 win over the Michigan Wolverines, in front of 1,988 fans – the sixth-largest crowd in UK history – on a perfect Wednesday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
UK’s win over Michigan marked the first in program history, snapping a four-game losing skid to the Wolverines. The Wildcats, who lost three of the previous four games in the series in overtime, battled U-M in 45 minutes of scoreless soccer to open the game, getting strong play from junior goalkeeper Dan Williams. UK came out of the half strong, getting a goal from dos Santos in the 56th minute to get on the board first before Rice netted a free kick from 22 yards away for the game winner.
After a sluggish first half, UK exploded for eight second half shots, to take a 10-7 advantage on shots, trailng U-M 6-5 on corner kicks. UK keeper Dan Williams totaled one save on the night, with his counterpart, Wolverine keeper Patrick Speery saving four shots.
Dos Santos got his third goal of the season in the 56th minute, despite missing UK’s 4-1 win over Cincinnati last weekend. The Brazil native, took a ball from Englishman Sam Vernalls through the U-M defense and fired a shot from 10 yards away in the right corner of the box, beating the keeper in the back of the net. The assist marked Vernalls’ – regarded as one of the top junior college players in the nation last year – second assist of the season, tying him for the team lead.
In the 74th minute, Rice struck for his free-kick goal, setting up just outside the box about 22 yards away, with a wall of U-M defenders in front of his kick. Rice bent the ball high and around the defenders and past a diving U-M keeper into the far left corner of the net. The goal marked Rice’s first of the season, a year after he led UK with seven goals – with six coming off headers and one coming from a free kick.
In the 29th minute, U-M had a good chance to take the lead, but Williams came up with a clutch save, keeping Jake Stacy’s header attempt out of the net.
UK’s Issam Sawtarie again displayed the game-changing speed that affected the Cincinnati defense last weekend, breaking through the defense in the 37th minute. Sawatrie got the keeper out of position but his stupendous attempt to squeeze the ball in the net failed.
U-M got on the board in the 87th minute as Stacy took a pass from Cam Cameron and beat the defense from 15-yards out, hitting the left post and bouncing in the net.
Rice, UK’s preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, won 6-of-6 contested header attempts in the game. On the year, minus the Cal Poly game, Rice has won 41-of-41 contested header attempts.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday, welcoming Alabama A&M to the UK Soccer Complex. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. ET.
