BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Despite a furious rally in the final five minutes that saw Matt Lodge pull the Kentucky men’s soccer team within striking distance with his second goal of the year, the No. 29 UAB Blazers held off the UK charge for a 2-1 win over the Wildcats, on a nice Saturday night at West Campus Field.
Kentucky (4-6-1, 1-1 Conference USA) was down 2-0 after allowing a pair of second-half goals for UAB. The Wildcats allowed UAB goals in the 67th and 87th minutes, before Lodge struck for his second goal of the year, just 12 seconds after UAB netted its second goal. Despite a hectic final three minutes, UAB held off the UK rally for the league win.
UK totaled seven shots in the game, with UAB totaling 13 shots in the contest. The Blazers and UK both finished with four corner kicks each. Lodge, Tyler Rigs and Sam Brooks totaled two shots each to lead UK, with Brad Doliner totaling one shot.
The goal for Lodge came 12 seconds after UAB’s second goal, as Lodge took a shot from about 25 yards out, deflecting off the goalkeeper in for the goal. It was Lodge’s eighth career goal.
The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 13, hosting Central Florida at 7 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
UAB (7-4-0, 1-2 C-USA) got on the board in the 67th minute, as Babayele Sodade netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season, on assists from Flo Liu and Gentry Smith. Liu lofted a corner kick to Smith, who found Sodade with Beadle just out of position, leading to the goal.
UAB got an insurance goal in the 87th minute, as Kevin Sawchak had a run down the far sideline, beating the UK defense with a low-lining ball. Kofi Gyawu found it in the 18-yard box and with Beadle hustling to secure the ball, Gyawu slipped a shot into the open net. The goal for Gyawu was his sixth of the year, second-best on the team.
Beadle, a native of Douglasville, Ga., totaled three saves in the game, while UAB keeper Carl Woszcynski finished with three saves.
Kentucky has been playing this season with an extremely young club, with over 60 percent of the minutes played by the Wildcats this season coming from first-year players. In the game against UAB, UK started eight of 11 first year players and played a total of 15 players in the game, with 12 playing in their first seasons at Kentucky. In addition, UK was without 11 players in the game due to injury, eligibility concerns or card accumulation, including veterans Cameron Wilder, Drew Midkiff, Jacob Kemper, Josh McCrary and C.J. Tappel.
