Sept. 4, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Behind goals from senior forward Marco dos Santos and junior midfielder Tyler Burns, the Kentucky men’s soccer team posted a season-opening 2-1 win over IUPUI in the second game of the UK Invitational, in front of 1,412 fans on a gorgeous Friday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (1-0-0) controlled the entire game, charting a 17-5 advantage on shots and an 8-3 mark in corner kicks. With the win, UK extends its school-record unbeaten streak to 11 games, dating back to Oct. 8, 2008. The Wildcats also improve to 10-8-1 all-time in season lid-lifters, winning four of the last five and five of the last seven.
The Wildcats opened up scoring in the 40th minute, as dos Santos – the reigning Conference USA Newcomer of the Year – got UK on the board. Junior C.J. Tappel played the ball to dos Santos, who fired a low-lining shot into the net for his sixth career goal. Dos Santos, a Brazil native, finished 2008 with five goals and five assists.
In the 67th frame, UK added to its lead, as dos Santos kept a UK attacking play alive with great hustle to keep the ball from going over the end line. With his diving cross putting the ball back into play, junior Josh Albers found the ball with his head, directing it to Burns, who headed it in for the two-goal advantage. A native of Aura, Colo., Burns totaled two goals and added two assists in 2008.
Kentucky goalkeeper Dan Williams notched two saves in 90 minutes in between the pipes for UK. He faced a total of five IUPUI shots and came less than 15 minutes from charting his 15th career clean sheet. IUPUI keeper Tyler Keever faced 17 UK shots and saved three.
Louisville opened the UK Invitational with a 3-0 win over Bowling Green earlier in the afternoon Friday. Kentucky will return to action Sunday, resuming the UKIT. UK will play in the second game of the day, hosting Bowling Green in the UKIT finale at 2:30 p.m. ET. Louisville and IUPUI will play in the first game of the day, slated for noon at the UK Soccer Complex. The UK women’s soccer team will face Akron at 5 p.m. at the UK Soccer Complex.
IUPUI (1-1-0) got a goal in the 78th minute, as Perez Agaba netted his first goal of the season. Yogi Snider found Agaba after breaking down the sideline, crossing the ball into the box, with Agaba dishing a slow roller into the corner of the net.
Dos Santos finished with five of UK’s 17 shots, with Jason Griffiths totaled four shots, including one on goal. Burns and freshman midfielder Matt Lodge each totaled two shots, with Brad Walker, Barry Rice and Albers each attempting one shot.
Rice, UK’s first-team preseason All-American defender and member of the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List, finished winning 16-of-18 contested header attempts in the game. Last season, UK started keeping track of the percentage of contested headers Rice wins in a game. In 2008, Rice won 189-of-218 contested header attempts, an astounding 87-percent clip.
