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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Having already clinched a berth in the 2010 Conference USA men’s soccer championship, Kentucky will wrap up the regular-season by hosting South Carolina on senior day Sunday, with kickoff at the UK Soccer Complex is slated for 1 p.m. ET.
Kentucky (6-7-3, 3-2-2 C-USA) is coming off a two-game road swing last week, traveling to No. 17 Tulsa and No. 5 SMU. UK posted a 2-1 comeback win at Tulsa last Wednesday, before allowing two goals to SMU in the first 10 minutes, with the Mustangs clinching the C-USA regular-season championship.
By virtue of UAB’s win over Marshall on Wednesday, the Wildcats clinched a postseason berth. At stake on Sunday will be seeding for the tournament, as a win will move UK into the No. 3 seed and a loss dropping UK to the five seed. South Carolina secured a spot in the league tournament with a win over Memphis on Sunday.
The Wildcats have been led offensively by freshman Tyler Riggs, who owns five goals. Sophomore Matt Lode has four goals and two assists, while junior college transfer Sam Brooks has charted three goals and one assist. Sophomore Jordan Rose leads the team with four assists.
In goal, freshman Tyler Beadle has had a dynamic collegiate debut, posting a 1.16 goals-against average in his first 17 games. He has saved 58 shots and totaled four clean sheets.
South Carolina (9-5-2, 4-2-1 C-USA) has won its last two games, posting a 1-0 win over FIU and a 3-0 result vs. Memphis. The Gamecocks also own wins over No. 5 SMU , Wake Forest, Clemson, Yale and N.C. State. South Carolina is averaging 1.19 goals per game and 14.1 shots per contest.
Individually, Bradlee Baladez leads the team with five goals, with Will Traynor totaling five goals and one assist. Blake Brettschneider has a team-best eight assists and four goals. Danny Cates has two goals and one assist. Stephen Morrissey has three assists and one goal. In goal, Jimmy Maurer has a 1.11 goals-against average in 16 games, saving 58 shots with seven shutouts.
The game will serve as senior day for three UK players, Josh Albers, Drew Midkiff and David Harrison. The trio of seniors will be honored in a ceremony pregame.
