Sept. 13, 2009

Box Score |  Photo Gallery  | Coach Collins Postgame Interview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Behind two goals from freshman midfielder Matt Lodge, the Kentucky men’s soccer team posted a comeback 2-1 win over SIU-Edwardsville, on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park.

Lodge, a native of Rossington, England, became the 55th player in the 19-year history of the UK soccer program to net two goals in a game. Forward Michael Strong was the last UK player to total two goals, netting two goals against Marshall on Nov. 12, 2008, a span of 307 days. In four games so far in 2009, Lodge has totaled three goals from his midfield post, adding one assist.

Kentucky (4-0-0) extended its school-record unbeaten streak to 14 games, dating back to Oct. 2008. On Friday, UK got its first win over a top-25 foe, topping No. 19 Illinois-Chicago 2-0, behind goals from Louisville, Ky., native Chad Hagerty and Brad Walker, with Lodge assisting on the Hagerty goal. UK also improved its record to 7-0-2 all-time in games played in Louisville. The two games on the weekend marked the first games played by Kentucky in Louisville against a team other than the Cardinals.

Lodge led the Wildcats with four shots in the game, including three on goal. Defender Drew Midkiff tallied a career-best four shots, with Jason Griffiths adding three shots and Taylor White finishing with two. In goal, Dan Williams faced five total SIUE shots. SIUE keeper Scott Meyer totaled two saves while facing 14 UK shots. 

Kentucky returns to action Wednesday, hosting an athletic Alabama A&M team at the UK Soccer Complex. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.

SIU-Edwardsville (1-3-0) broke through with the first goal of the game in the 23rd minute, as Kevin Bielicki found himself free of the UK defense on a counter attack. Bielecki fired a shot from about 15-yards away, a low shot that found the net past Williams.

In the 27th minute, UK evened up the game, as Drew Midkiff started the play off with a throw in by the UK bench. After his throw in got played back to him from about 30 yards out, Midkiff fired a shot into traffic, with the ball bouncing back to Lodge in the middle of the box. Lodge shot a slow roller and with the SIUE keeper out of position, the ball trickled into the net.

Kentucky answered in the 58th minute, as Lodge took a free kick from about 30-yards out at the center of the field. Lodge bent the ball around the SIUE wall, with the ball taking one bounce past the keeper and finding the corner of the net.

First-team All-American defender Barry Rice won 10-of-10 contested header attempts in the game, improving his season total to 39-for-44. In 2008, during his All-American season, Rice won nearly 200 contested header attempts in 21 games, a startling 87-percent clip.

All-Tournament Team

Matt Lodge, Kentucky
Tyler Burns, Kentucky
Taylor White, Kentucky
Drew Midkiff, Kentucky

Colin Rolfe, Louisville
Othaniel Yanez, Louisville
Phil Edginton, Louisville
Jovan Bubonja, UIC
Paul Kopec, UIC
Zach Bauer, SIU Edwardsville
Randy Ra, SIU Edwardsville