Oct. 11, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a match of the two most explosive offensive teams in the conference, the Kentucky men’s soccer team returns to action hosting No. 18 South Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (5-4-2, 1-1 Conference USA) and South Carolina rank among the C-USA leaders in nearly every category, with UK checking in third in shots (142), tied first in points (66) with USC, first in goals (23), first in goals per game (2.09), second in assists (20), second in assists per game (1.82), second in goals allowed (9) and goals against average (0.79).
The Gamecocks check in tied with UK for first in points (66), second in goals (21), second in goals per game (1.91), first in assists (24), first in assists per game (2.18), first in goals allowed (8) and first in goals against average (0.79). The two squads also rank first and second in shutouts, with USC leading the league with six and UK one behind with five.
The Wildcats have been led offensively by senior forward Michael Strong, who leads the club with seven goals in UK’s 11 games. Jason Griffiths, Marco dos Santos and Tim Crone all rank second on the club with three goals each. Junior Sam Vernalls leads the team in assists with three, in addition to two goals. In goal, UK keeper Dan Williams has toiled a steady hand, allowing a 0.80 goals-against average and just nine goals on the year.
South Carolina (6-3-2, 1-0-1 C-USA) has been led by the biggest offensive weapon in the league, Sam Arthur, who paces the conference with 10 goals in 11 games. The Gamecocks are unbeaten in its last three games, with to wins and a tie to high-octane SMU. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer has continued to prove himself as one of the best keepers in the conference, posting a 0.70 goals-against average, allowing just eight goals in over 1,000 minutes between the pipes.
Kentucky owns a 1-4-1 overall record vs. the Gamecocks, in a series that dates back to 1991. UK got its first win in the series at home in 2006, a two-overtime victory. UK lost in 2007, 2-1 in overtime in Columbia.
