Oct. 17, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freshman midfielder Matt Lodge netted the game winner in the sixth minute and senior Dan Williams saved three shots, boosting the Kentucky men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks, on Saturday night at Stone Stadium.
Kentucky (9-5-0, 2-3-0 Conference USA) won its second consecutive league contest, after topping Memphis 2-1 on the road last weekend. Lodge, a native of Rossington, England, charted his third game-winning goal of the year and his sixth total goal. Lodge’s three game-winners ties him for sixth all-time in UK single-season history.
Williams, a four-year starter, saved three shots while facing 10 total Gamecock shots. The shutout marked the fourth of the year for Williams, a native of Fairfax Station, Va., and the 18th of his career, just four shy of the UK career mark.
UK finished with seven shots in the game, including five in the second period, while South Carolina totaled 10 shots. USC had seven corner kicks with UK totaling four corner-kick attempts. South Carolina goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer finished with four saves.
South Carolina (7-4-2, 2-1-1 C-USA) dropped its first league match of the year, previously besting SMU and UCF, in addition to tying defending C-USA Champion Tulsa in Columbia. USC opened up the season with only one loss in its first seven games, including wins over Charlotte, Clemson and Furman.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, hosting annual power SMU at 1 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex. Including the match with SMU, UK has three league contests remaining, facing UCF and FIU on the road.
