Oct. 10, 2009
MEMPHIS — Junior midfielder Tyler Burns’ goal in the 71st minute broke a 347-minute team scoreless streak and lifted the Kentucky men’s soccer team to a 2-1 comeback win over the Memphis Tigers, on Saturday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
With UK trailing 1-0 after allowing a Memphis goal in the 50th minute, UK freshman midfielder Matt Lodge hooked up with senior forward Marco dos Santos and junior defender Drew Midkiff for his team-high fifth goal of the season in the 62nd minute. Lodge, a Rossington, England, native, took the ball from dos Santos, who fielded a throw in from Midkiff. The assist was the first of the season for Midkiff, a native of Cincinnati.
In the 71st frame, Burns connected with junior C.J. Tappel for his third goal of the season, connecting on a header goal past Memphis keeper Michael Goodlett. The goal was Burns’ second game-winning goal of the season and the third of his career. Tappel, a native of Lexington, Ky., is now tied with dos Santos with a club-best three assists.
Memphis’ Hugo Mondragon connected with Brian Farrell in the 50th frame on a free kick, with Mondragon heading in the ball for his first goal of the season.
Kentucky (8-4-0, 1-3-0 Conference USA) posts its first conference win of the season, snapping a three-match losing streak. The Wildcats had ran up a 347-minute scoreless streak over its last four games before Lodge got the Wildcats on the board in the 62nd minute. UK has now only lost four matches in its last 20 games, which included a school-record 15-match unbeaten streak that spanned October 2008 until a Sept. 20 loss to Marshall in the season opener.
Memphis (4-3-2, 1-2-0 C-USA) was led offensively by Farrell and Andreas Guentner, who each fired two shots.
UK returns to action Wednesday, traveling to face state rival 16th-ranked Louisville at 7 p.m. ET.
UK goalkeeper Dan Williams finished with two saves, while Memphis keeper Michael Goodlett totaled four saves.
Kentucky fired seven shots in the game and had a total of four corner kicks, while Memphis finished with eight shots and three corner kicks.
Dos Santos and freshman Cameron Wilder each fired shots on goal for UK in the first half. Lodge totaled three shots – all on goal – in the second half for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats now lead the all-time series between the two schools, 4-3-1.
