EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Playing in its third consecutive overtime game, the Kentucky men’s soccer team used a golden goal from Sam Brooks – his first career goal – in the 108th minute, leading the Wildcats to a 2-1 win in double overtime against Evansville, the NCAA’s highest-scoring offense, on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,007 fans at McCutchan Stadium.
Kentucky (3-4-1) found itself in its third straight overtime game and its fifth overtime contest in the last six matches. With less than three minutes remaining in the second overtime period, UK senior defender David Harrison assisted on Brooks’ first career goal, a shot from 25 yards out that skidded off the bottom of the crossbar into the net for the golden goal.
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead on the second goal in the last two games from freshman Ellis Vienne. Vienne connected on a header from senior Drew Midkiff’s corner kick for his second career goal in the 25th frame.
Evansville (4-3-1) evened up the game in the second half, as Brandon Causey scored his first goal of the season on an assist from Tom Irvin’s throw in.
After a scoreless first overtime period, Harrison found Brooks for the game-winning goal in the 108th minute, the first assist of the year for Harrison.
UK freshman goalkeeper Tyler Beadle had an excellent game against the high-powered Purple Aces, saving a career-high six shots in the contest, allowing just the one Evansville goal. UE totaled 21 shots in the game, with UK charting 20 shot attempts, including outshooting the Purple Aces 9-0 in the two overtime periods. Evansville entered the game leading the NCAA with 19 goals through its first seven games of the 2010 season.
Midkiff, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, led UK with a career-high five shots taken in the game, including two on goal. Brooks, Vienne, Charles Pettys and Cameron Wilder each charted multiple shots in the game. UK started six freshmen in the game and played a total of 19 players, 12 of which are in their first seasons at Kentucky.
Evansville keeper Phil Boerger saved four shots in the game. Irvin and Tad Kreamalmeyer led UE with four shots in the game, with Tyler Kincaid totaling three shots.
Kentucky will return to action Wednesday, hosting in-state rival No. 8 Louisville at 7 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex. The game will feature a bevy of promotions, including UK student night (featuring free Papa John’s Pizza for UK students), Website Wednesday (visit UKathletics.com for a special coupon) and Chick-fil-A Junior Wildcat Club Night.
