LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky men’s soccer team has been ranked a school-record No. 19 in the NCAA in average attendance and the women’s soccer team has seen its attendance soar over 700 fans per game for the record second consecutive season, it was announced.

The men’s soccer team posted a 13-win season in 2009, setting the school record for average attendance (1,150). UK’s No. 19 ranking in the NCAA equals the 2001 season, when the Wildcats ranked No. 19 in the nation, with an average of 973 fans per game.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Jon Lipsitz, the women’s soccer team continued its tremendous attendance growth, totaling 915 fans per game in 2009. It marks the second  the school-record second consecutive season over 700 fans per game. In 2008, UK totaled 747 fans per game. Since the 2000 season, where the Wildcats totaled 368 fans per game, Kentucky has seen attendance for the women’s program grow 149 percent.

The men’s soccer program led Conference USA in attendance for the third time since becoming a member (since 2004), also claiming the C-USA attendance crown in 2005 (969 per game) and 2007 (888 per game). UK ranked third in 2006, averaging 742 fans per game and checked in second in 2008, totaling 992 fans per game. UK ranked as high as No. 21 in 2005 and No. 25 in 2008 in the NCAA attendance rankings.

Both programs had excellent attendances in 2009 for specific games, including UK’s women’s games with Louisville (1,074), Wake Forest (1,412), Akron (1,475) and Western Kentucky (1,005). The men’s program had some high attendances against several foes, including IUPUI (1,412), Bowling Green (1,475), UAB (1,774) and Tulsa (2,084).