LEXINGTON, Ky. — Behind the first career two-goal outing from junior midfielder Charles Pettys and a school-record three-assist game from junior forward Matt Lodge, the Kentucky men’s soccer team posted a 3-1 thrashing of annual Conference USA power and heated rival Tulsa, on a perfect Wednesday night at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (8-7-1, 1-4-0 C-USA) picked up its first league win of the year behind Pettys and Lodge, with Pettys’ two goals the 56th all-time two-goal outing in UK soccer history. The two-goal game was Pettys’ first career multi-goal game, while Lodge’s three assists marked a career-best for the Rossington, England, native, who had a two-assist and three-goal game earlier in the year. UK senior Josh Mulvany was also electrifying in the game, netting his third goal of the campaign and assisting on Pettys’ first goal of the contest.
Lodge’s three-assist outing is tied for the most assists in a single-game in UK history, equaling Brien Baltzell (1996; vs. Texas Pan Am), Lee Baker (1999; vs. UNC Asheville), Jason Bell (1999, vs. Marshall) and Barry Rice (2006; vs. Georgetown College).
On the year, Lodge owns seven goals and 10 assists, with his assist total ranking as the second-most in UK single-season history, behind only All-American Jamal Shteiwi’s school-record 13 assists in 2003. Lodge owns 17 career goals and 15 career assists through the first 16 games of his junior season, ranking seventh in UK career history in points (49), eighth in goals and fifth in assists. With his 62 shots in 2011, Lodge ranks second in UK single-season annals, just shy of the school-record 69 shots taken by Riley O’Neill during his dynamic 2006 season.
The Wildcats have been paced by an explosive offense throughout the year, highlighted by Lodge, Mulvany and Tyler Riggs. UK owns 31 goals through 16 games in 2011 after netting just 18 goals in 19 games a year ago. The Wildcats entered the three-goal performance vs. annual heated rival Tulsa ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in total goals scored.
UK sophomore keeper Tyler Beadle was robbed of his second shutout of the year when a penalty kick was called for in the 87th minute, with Tulsa converting to get on the board. Beadle saved four shots in the game, including two acrobatic diving stops. Pettys also saved a shot for UK, knocking out a TU effort in the second half. In addition, UK got stellar outings from senior Josh McCrary, sophomore Dylan Asher, sophomore Steven Perinovic and senior Brad Walker, with each logging the full 90 minutes.
Kentucky returns to action next Wednesday, traveling to face No. 15 Indiana, with kickoff in Bloomington slated for 7 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the action with a complete, interactive live blog from the press box.
The Wildcats got on the board first in the 13th minute, as Mulvany played a ball from the far side of the 18-yard box into Lodge inside the box. Lodge then flipped it quickly to Pettys who was open on the opposite end of the six-yard box, with Pettys one timing the ball into the net past a diving keeper.
In the 27th minute, Pettys got UK on the board again, as Lodge made a nice run down the far sideline, drawing defenders to his position. Lodge crossed the ball into the box where Pettys was open at the top of six-yard box, flicking it past the keeper for his second goal of the game.
UK continued to add to its lead with a goal in the 81st frame from Mulvany. Defender Marco Bordon ran down the far sideline and played the ball into the box for Lodge, who ushered the ball to Mulvany for the commanding 3-0 UK lead.
Tulsa (4-8-0, 0-3-0 C-USA) keeper Michael Murray finished with two saves in the game, facing 11 total UK shots. TU finished with a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
