COLUMBIA, S.C. — Junior Matt Lodge chipped a perfect shot over charging High Point keeper Michael Chesler just under two minutes into overtime, lifting No. 29 Kentucky to a golden goal win over Panthers, on a chilly Friday night during the opening day of the 2011 Gamecock Classic at Stone Stadium.
The Wildcats rode Tyler Riggs’ goal just 57 seconds into the game for an early lead, before High Point netted the game-tying goal in the second period. UK immediately responded with the golden goal off the boot of the heroic Lodge with 1:56 on the clock in UK’s first overtime game of the year. Riggs and Lodge lead the Wildcats with six goals each, ranking among the NCAA’s top five in goals.
Kentucky (5-2-1) faced a challenging task entering the overtime period with the game locked in a 1-1 tie. Lodge took a long ball from Cameron Wilder and Josh Mulvany and with Chesler charging hard, Lodge lofted a chip shot over Chesler’s outstretched hands for the golden goal. Wilder’s assist was his first of the year and the third of his career, while Mulvany’s assist was his second of the season.
UK got on the board just 57 seconds into the game behind Riggs, Sam Brooks and Charles Pettys. Pettys lofted a great corner kick into the box, with Brooks getting his head on the ball. Riggs then deflected the ball slightly past Chesler for a hard-hit shot that found the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season. Pettys leads the team with five assists on the year, with Brooks notching his first.
UK returns to action on Sunday, facing No. 15 Brown at 11 a.m. ET at Stone Stadium in UK’s final game of the Gamecock Classic.
The Wildcats were led offensively by Lodge, who fired a game-high five shots, with Riggs totaling two shots. UK netminder Tyler Beadle charted three saves for the Wildcats, with UK also getting a team save from Brad Walker on a free kick from High Point in the second half.
High Point (1-3-1) suffered the setback despite Chelser totaling two saves in the game. The Panthers, who won 16 games and went undefeated in conference play last season, were led by Adam Sewell’s four shots in the game.
The Panthers got on the board in the 58th minute, as Alex Martinez collected his third goal of the year, set up off a throw in with assists to Sewell and Shane Malcolm.
