Oct. 31, 2009

MIAMI — After dispatching UCF in overtime Wednesday night in Orlando, the Kentucky men’s soccer team continues its road swing through the Sunshine State, facing Florida International Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Kentucky (10-5-0, 3-3-0 Conference USA) got an overtime win over UCF Wednesday night, as first-team preseason All-American Barry Rice skied to score his first goal of the year, a golden goal with 34 seconds left in overtime. UK also got the first career goal from sophomore Mark Lavery to take an early 1-0 lead before allowing an equalizing goal from UCF in the 81st minute.

The Wildcats sit in fourth place in the league with two games to play, with the conference taking the top four teams to the league tournament.

UK owns a 3-1-1 all-time record against FIU, having won three consecutive meetings. Last year, UK posted a 3-2 win in double overtime, as senior Masumi Turnbull netted the golden goal in the second overtime. UK’s lone loss to FIU came on the road in 2001, when UK was a member of the Mid-American Conference.

Offensively, UK freshman Matt Lodge has led the Wildcats in scoring with six goals and an assist in 14 games. Junior midfielder Tyler Burns has added three goals and an assist, while C.J. Tappel and Marco dos Santos lead UK with three assists each. In goal, senior and four-year starter Dan Williams has totaled a 0.85 goals-against average.

FIU (5-9-1, 0-5-1 C-USA) has been led offensively by Sebastian Frings, who has eight goals and an assist in 15 games. Steven Cabas has added six goals and five assists, while Deigo Tamburus has two assists and one goal. In between the pipes, netminders Phillip Lamarre has totaled a 1.58 goals-against average in eight games, while Shane Lopez has a 1.82 goals-against average in six games. Phillip Lamarre has four shutouts to his credit. FIU is coming off a double-overtime scoreless tie with conference power South Carolina on Oct. 24.