Sept. 22, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Winners of five of its first six games in 2009, the Kentucky men’s soccer team has climbed to No. 20 in the top-25, announced Tuesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Kentucky (5-1-0, 0-1-0 Conference USA) ranked No. 22 last week in the NSCAA poll after starting the season 4-0, including a win over No. 19 UIC. UK climbed two spots to No. 20 in the poll released Tuesday, after posting a win over Alabama A&M and suffering a setback in the conference opener against Marshall Sunday night, amidst sloppy field conditions. UK’s double overtime loss to Marshall Sunday night marked the first loss since an October 2008 loss at then-No. 14 Tulsa, a school-record span of 15 consecutive matches without defeat.

In addition, UK checks in as the top-ranked team in the midwest region by the NSCAA for the second consceutive week. The Wildcats are among six of the nine C-USA schools ranked in the top-10 in the midwest region, including UAB, Tulsa, South Carolina, SMU and Memphis.

The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, traveling to Cincinnati to face Xavier at 7 p.m. ET at the Xavier University Soccer Complex. Last year, Xavier edged UK 1-0 with a goal in the 81st minute in Lexington.

NSCAA Top-25


1. Akron   
2. North Carolina   
3. South Florida   
4. Maryland  
5. California  
6. Wake Forest
7. UC Santa Barbara  
8. Harvard 
9. Louisville  
10. UCLA
11. Virginia
12. Duke   
13. Indiana 
14. Monmouth 
15. Dartmouth
16. North Carolina State  
17. Creighton 
18. St. John’s    
19. Boston University
20. Kentucky   
21. Michigan State
22. Michigan 
23. UC Irvine
24. Cal State Northridge   
25. Brown

Also receiving votes: College of Charleston 44, Old Dominion 44, Northwestern 38, Charlotte 37, UMBC 37, Ohio State 34, South Carolina 31, Notre Dame 25, New Mexico 17, Loyola Marymount 16, Temple 15, UAB 9, Princeton 8, Saint Louis 6, Wisconsin-Green Bay 6, Loyola (Md.) 5, Tulsa 5, Drake 4, SMU 4, Evansville 2, Lehigh 2, Georgetown 1, Oregon State 1

Midwest Region Top-10


1. Kentucky 
2. Drake
3. UAB 
4. Tulsa  
5. SMU
6. Missouri State University  
7. Bradley University
8. Creighton University
9. Memphis 
10. Evansville/Oakland University