Aug. 27, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After facing No. 18 Dayton in the first exhibition game of the season last Friday, the Kentucky men’s soccer team will wrap up its preseason with an exhibition match at Marquette, facing the Golden Eagles Friday at 2 p.m. ET.

Kentucky fell in the first preseason game of the year to the Flyers, in front of 1,041 fans at the UK Soccer Complex. The Wildcats got a penalty-kick goal from senior midfielder Jason Griffiths, before UD scored a late second-half goal that gave the Flyers the exhibition win.

Marquette has played two exhibition games so far in the preseason, most recently a 2-2 tie with Valparaiso. On August 20, Marquette scored an exhibition win over No. 22 Michigan, notching the win with a penalty-kick shootout, 3-2.

Kentucky, which finished the 2008 season ranked No. 21 and riding a school-record 10-match unbeaten streak, return nearly its entire roster from a year ago, including captains Griffiths, Barry Rice and Dan Williams. Rice, a senior defender, has been tabbed with a bevy of accolades in the preseason, including first-team preseason All-American by Soccer America. Rice, a native of Parma, Ohio, is also a member of the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List, annually given to the top player in collegiate soccer. Last season, UK finished with the 15th-best scoring offense in the NCAA and the 31st-best goals-against average in the nation.

In 2008, Marquette finished with a 3-10-4 record, including a 1-6-3 record at home. Last year, the Golden Eagles owned an 1.17 goals-against average, netting 12 goals in 17 games.

After facing Marquette, UK will open its regular season Sept. 4 with the annual UK Invitational, hosting IUPUI at 7:30 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.