LEXINGTON, Ky. — Off to an unbeaten start to the 2011 season and coming off a dominating win over Wright State on Friday night, the 21st-ranked Kentucky men’s soccer team hosts IUPUI in the final day of the 10th annual UK Invitational, with kickoff on Sunday set for 2:30 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (3-0-0) will host the Jaguars in the final game of the 2011 UK Invitational, with Evansville and Wright State opening the final day of the weekend at 12 p.m. ET. Evansville posted a 2-0 win over IUPUI on Friday night in the opening game of the weekend tournament.
The Wildcats rode a dynamic performance from junior midfielder and All-America candidate Matt Lodge on Friday night, with Lodge netting the game-winning goal in the second half. UK also got the first goal of the year from senior defender Brad Walker in the first half, coming on a corner kick from Lodge. UK keeper Tyler Beadle toiled a clean sheet into the 90th minute before a last-second penalty kick was called, allowing WSU to get on the board before the game ended in a UK win. Overall, UK posted a staggering 24 shots in the game, allowing only five efforts from WSU.
UK has been led offensively by reigning National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Player of the Week Tyler Riggs, who led UK with three goals in the first two games of the season. Riggs’ highlight last weekend came as the two goals in UK’s 2-1 comeback win over No. 9 Michigan. Lodge paces UK in shots with 16 through three games, including a staggering eight efforts in the win on Friday night. C.J. Tappel has added a goal and an assist, while Charles Pettys owns a team-leading three assists. Dylan Asher as added two assists and Steven Perinovic has charted an assist.
Beadle owns a 0.67 goals-against average through three starts, saving five shots and allowing only two goals on penalty kicks.
IUPUI (1-2-0) fell in the 2-0 result to Evansville on Friday night, owning a win over Liberty and also falling in a 1-0 loss to Wright State. Sam Fuller owns the lone IUPUI goal, while Kyle Hyland has fired four shots. Yogi Snider has charted one assist, with IUPUI firing 18 total team shots through three games. In game, Tyler Keever has allowed three goals in three games with 10 saves and one shutout.
