Sept. 30, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Having not allowed a goal in a span of 224 minutes, the Kentucky men’s soccer team puts its shutout streak on the line, opening Conference USA play with a road matchup with the Marshall Thundering Herd, on Wednesday at Sam Hood Field.
Kentucky (4-2-2, 0-0 C-USA) is coming off two consecutive scoreless ties with Alabama A&M and UNC-Asheville. The Wildcats have not allowed a goal since a harmless 86th minute goal in the 2-1 win over Michigan.
UK owns an 11-5-3 all-time advantage in the series, which dates back to 1991, a UK home loss. Kentucky has claimed wins in three of the past six meetings, posting two ties and one defeat during that span. The Wildcats split the two-meetings in 2007, with UK claiming a 3-1 win during the regular season and the Thundering Herd posting a 3-1 win in the opening round of the conference tournament in Birmingham. UK’s preseason All-American Barry Rice netted two goals in the regular season win over Marshall in 2007, assisting on Aaron Swanson’s goal to begin the game.
The Wildcats, who rank 13th nationally in scoring offense, opened up the season in explosive offensive form, running up 18 goals in the first six games, just a year removed from netting 23 goals in UK’s 19 2007 matches. The lone losses for the Wildcats came in nationally-ranked road battles at No. 7 UC Santa Barbara and No. 24 Cal Poly.
Offensively, senior forward Michael Strong has led the way, notching five goals and an assist. Forward Marco dos Santos ranks second on the squad with three goals, while freshman Taylor White has added two goals and two assists. Co-captain Jason Griffiths and junior Tim Crone have each added two goals, with Griffiths netting both of his off penalty kicks. Sam Vernalls and George Davis IV join White as the team leaders in assists, each doling out two on the year.
Rice, a member of the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List and considered one of the finest defenders in collegiate soccer, has won 60-of-62 contested header attempts in UK’s eight games this season.
In goal, the reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, Dan Williams has posted a 0.73 goals against average in eight games, toiling 742 minutes in between the pipes. Williams, who ranks 39th in the NCAA in goals against average, has allowed only six goals and saved 17 shots, while posting three shutouts. As a team, UK ranks 29th in the NCAA in goals against average (0.71).
Kentucky has not lost a conference opener since 2002, posting 4-0-1 record in the last five conference-opening matches. Last season, UK edged UAB 1-0 in the C-USA opener in Lexington. UK has won four of its last six regular season C-USA matches.
Marshall (0-7-1, 0-0 C-USA) is coming off a 3-3 tie with soccer power Bowling Green on Saturday. The Thundering Herd had lost seven straight to open up the season before posting the tie vs. Bowling Green. Marshall has been led offensively by Sterling Flunder and Dustin Dawes, who have each posted two goals, while Dalton Hadlock and Sammy Boateng lead the club with two assists each. In goal, Marshall has utilized two keepers, Greg Walter and Robert Smith. Smith, who has played in two games with a 2.72 goals against average, started the tie vs. Bowling Green. Walter, a senior from Slippery Rock, Pa., has seen action in 607 minutes and seven games, allowing 18 goals and a 2.67 goals against average, saving 26 shots.
