LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite the fourth-most shots in Kentucky men’s soccer single-game history and a pair of gorgeous goals from Matt Lodge and Tyler Riggs, a heavy thunderstorm overtook the Central Kentucky area, forcing the matchup with No. 21 UK and IUPUI to end in a 2-2 tie, on Sunday afternoon at the UK Soccer Complex.
The game wraps up the 10th annual Kentucky invitational, with UK emerging victories with a 2-1 win over Wright State on Friday night and the 2-2 result vs. IUPUI. Wright State posted a 1-0 win over Evansville in the first game of the twinbill on Sunday for a second-place finish in the invite, with Evansville finishing third and IUPUI fourth overall.
Kentucky (3-0-1) struck for the first goal on a majestic strike from Lodge, UK’s offensive star. IUPUI evened up the game in the 30th minute to take it to halftime in a 1-1 tie. In the 48th minute, the Jaguars received a favorable call for a penalty kick, allowing IUPUI to take a 2-1 lead. With the rainstorm approaching and UK needing a goal to force extra time, Riggs struck for his team-leading fourth goal of the year in as many games in the 85th minute.
UK absolutely dominated the pace of play, firing a staggering 28 total shots in the contest, including 18 in the second half while mounting a furious rally. The 28 total shots ranks tied for fourth most in UK single-game history, just shy of the school record set in 1994 with 31 shots against Eastern Michigan. UK also took an eye-popping 16 corner kicks to just one corner by IUPUI.
UK was led offensively again by Lodge, who a game after firing eight shots totaled six efforts to lead the match. Riggs fired three shots, netting a goal and adding an assist, while C.J. Tappel also fired four shots. Following the draw, UK standouts Lodge, Wilder, Charles Pettys and Josh McCrary were selected to the 2011 UK Invitational All-Tournament team.
The Wildcats were hampered by the injury bug in the game, as UK All-Conference USA keeper Tyler Beadle sat out of the game due to a minor injury, with transfer Jack Van Arsdale getting the start, the first game of Beadle’s career not as the starting net-minder. Van Arsdale saved two shots, with UK also notching two team saves, including a nice stop by Cameron Wilder. In addition to Beadle, UK starters Marco Bordon, Gabriel Conelian and Dylan Asher sat out the game due to injury.
IUPUI (1-2-1) keeper Tyler Keever was in the right place much of the game, saving five shots in the total 28 shots UK took in his direction. IUPUI finished with seven shots in the game.
Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday, hosting IPFW at 7 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
With 15:42 on the clock, Tappel centered the ball from the left sideline. IUPUI defenders converged on it and attempted to clear the ball, but could not get it out of the box. With the ball in the air, Lodge stepped in and struck a gorgeous half-volley into the roof of the net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. It was Lodge’s second goal in as many games.
Matt Guy evened the score in the 30th minute with a nice finish from about 12 yards out. Perez Agaba fed Guy who worked his way through the UK defense and slotted the ball low past Van Arsdale for the goal. Guy’s goal was the first goal the Kentucky defense had allowed in the flow of the game all season. The two goals Kentucky had surrendered in previous games both came off penalty kicks.
IUPUI took the lead in the 48th minute when Agaba converted a penalty kick by powering it high down the middle. The penalty kick goal was the third such goal Kentucky has allowed in its first four games.
IUPUI put pressure on the UK defense in the 58th minute. Agabe came in strong from the right side and tried to place a ball by Van Arsdale on the far post. Van Arsdale dove and deflected it wide and senior defender Sam Brooks was at the right spot at the right time and kicked it out at the last second with an IUPUI forward bearing down. On the ensuing corner kick, junior forward Wilder, who was positioned at the near post, cleared a ball off the line from an IUPUI header.
Late in the 85th minute, freshman forward Jonathan Brown played a gorgeous through ball to sophomore forward Tyler Riggs who had timed his run perfectly. Riggs then calmly placed the ball by IUPUI goalkeeper Tyler Keever into the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. The assist was Brown’s first career points.
UK Invitational Results
Evansville 2, IUPUI 0
No. 21 Kentucky 2, Wright State 1
Wright State 1, Evansville 0
No. 21 Kentucky 2, IUPUI 2 (game suspended)
UK Invitational All-Tournament Team
Matt Lodge – Kentucky
Charles Pettys – Kentucky
Cameron Wilder – Kentucky
Josh McCrary – Kentucky
Tyler Keever (GK) – IUPUI
Kyle Hyland – IUPUI
Craig Feehan (GK) – Wright State
Derek Zuniga – Wright State
Bryce Rockwell-Ashton – Wright State
Alex Kapsalis – Evansville
Jesse Sharp – Evansville
