Nov. 7, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After clinching a post-season berth with a win Wednesday over SMU, the Kentucky men’s soccer team wraps up the regular season with senior day Sunday, hosting High Point in a non-conference tilt, at 1 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.

Kentucky (12-5-0, 5-3-0 Conference USA) clinched the four seed in the C-USA Tournament, to be held Nov. 13-15 at the winner of the regular season champion. Conference front runners UAB (5-1-1) and Marshall (5-2-0) play at 7 p.m. ET, while Tulsa (5-1-1) faces UCF (2-4-1) at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Tulsa owning the tie breaker over UAB thanks to a 5-0 result.

The Wildcats got the clutch win behind one of the more clutch performers in the history of the program, as senior forward Tim Crone netted a game-winning goal in the second half. Crone, a Cincinnati native, now owns three career goals – all off the bench – against SMU, including both goals in a 2-1 win over the No. 1 ranked Mustangs in 2007.

Freshman Matt Lodge has led UK offensively with six goals and one assist, while Tyler Burns and Jason Griffiths have each contributed three goals. Senior Marco dos Santos and junior C.J. Tappel have added a team-high three assists. In goal, keeper Dan Williams leads the league with a 0.75 goals-against average, totaling six clean sheets.

High Point (9-5-2, 5-1-2 Big South) has been led offensively by Shawn Sloan, who has five goals and two assists in 16 games. Fejiro Okiomah has added four goals and three assist, while Matt Tuttle leads the team with five assists, adding three goals. Stephen Clowes (four goals), Karo Okiomah (two goals, three assists) and Shane Malcolm (three goals) have each contributed multiple goals. In goal, netminder Michael Chesler has allowed 17 goals in 16 games, posting a 1.05 goals-against average with six shutouts. As a team, High Point has 1.69 goals per game and 12.7 shots per game.

UK is honoring a decorated senior class that consists of eight seniors, Crone, George Davis IV, Chad Hagerty, Jason Griffiths, Tim Muessig, Marco dos Santos, Barry Rice and Dan Williams. The senior class includes some of the top players in the 19-year history of the program, including: Rice, UK’s third all-time All-American; Hagerty, UK’s fourth all-time Academic All-American; Griffiths, a 2008 first-team All-Conference USA selection; and Williams, who ranks among the top goalkeepers in the history of the program.

Kentucky will be meeting High Point for the first time in program history.