Nov. 7, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — All-America defender Barry Rice won a season-high 32-of-36 contested header attempts and goalkeeper Dan Williams posted several match-saving stops to lead the No. 23 Kentucky men’s soccer team to a scoreless draw with the Memphis Tigers, UK’s seventh consecutive game without defeat – equaling the longest unbeaten streak in program history – on Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (10-4-4, 6-1-1 Conference USA) wrapped up the regular season with the scoreless tie, UK’s first in conference play. The Wildcats, who on Sunday secured the No. 2 seed in the C-USA Tournament next week, suffered only one loss in league play on the year – a 2-1 setback at No. 14 Tulsa.
Rice, a preseason All-American and member of the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy National Player of the Year Watch List, put on an aerial show throughout the 110 minutes, claiming a season-high 32-of-36 contested header attempts. In 18 games on the year, Rice has won 161-for-180 contested header attempts, an 89-percent clip. Rice, a junior and reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, had a previous season-best of 13-of-14 headers won at UNC-Asheville.
Williams, a junior and native of Fairfax Station, Va., totaled two saves on the night, in addition to several match-saving services, repeatedly showcasing a physical presence inside the box. The two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week faced seven total Tiger shots in 110 minutes. With his sixth shutout of the season and the 13th of his career, Williams moves into fourth-place all-time in the UK career record books.
Kentucky’s last defeat came at Tulsa on Oct. 8, a span of seven consecutive matches. During that time the Wildcats have rolled to a 5-0-2 record with wins over No. 18 South Carolina, No. 22 SMU and draws at No. 14 Indiana and against Memphis. Four times in program history the Wildcats have spanned a seven-game unbeaten streak – in 1997, 1998, 2004 and in 2008.
The Wildcats controlled the tempo of the game after a sluggish first half for both teams. UK owned a 13-7 advantage in shots and a 12-3 lead in corner kicks. Memphis (6-10-1, 3-4 C-USA) goalkeeper Michael Goodlett totaled five saves on the night.
Rice had a chance in the 45th minute, connecting on a header shot off a throw in, but decidedly missed his attempt wide.
Williams posted his first save of the night in the 50th minute, stopping an effort from beyond 30-yards out.
In the 62nd minute, Williams controlled another Tigers effort, securing a gentle floating shot for his second save of the night.
In the 65th minute with a 3-on-1 Memphis breakaway, Williams sprinted out of the box making a head-first diving clearance to thwart a potential scoring chance. After the physical collision, both Williams and Memphis’ Tripp Harkins laid on the field, forcing a stoppage in play after the physical clearance from Williams.
UK began to have its best chances in the first overtime as Sam Vernalls found himself on a breakaway, striking the ball on a shot that forced a save and set up a series of action-packed corner kicks and shot attempts.
In the 81st minute, Vernalls fired a shot from inside the six-yard box that forced a save.
Marco dos Santos had his best chance to give the Wildcats the golden goal in the 97th minute, finding himself open on a 3-on-1 breakaway, but his shot hit the rear post wide right.
Dos Santos continued to give UK a chance in overtime, lifting a beautiful cross into the box for Tyler Burns, whose leaping diving attempt to head the ball in missed.
UK returns to action in the C-USA Tournament beginning Wednesday in Dallas.
