Oct. 20, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Coming off a 1-0 win at Marshall on Wednesday night, the Kentucky men’s soccer team returns to its home pitch for a Conference USA matchup with Florida International University, with kickoff slated for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
Kentucky (7-6-1, 2-1-1 C-USA) is fresh off the thrilling 1-0 win over 10-win Marshall on the road on Wednesday night in Hurricane, W.Va., at Hurricane High School. The Wildcats got the first career goal from junior Dylan Asher, a two-time All-Conference USA defender who made his first career start at forward in place of UK injured leading scorer Tyler Riggs.
The goal allowed by the Herd was just their fifth surrendered in the first 14 games, with Marshall entering the game ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in defense. Junior goalkeeper Jack Van Arsdale saved five shots in his third clean sheet of the 2012 season.
UK has been led by an explosive offensive attack, finishing 24 goals in its first 14 games, averaging 1.71 goals score per game, taking 12.1 shots a match. The Wildcats own an 88-73 advantage in corner kicks, with a 1.40 goals-against average.
The Wildcats have been paced by Riggs, who has seven goals and four assists in 13 games. Senior Matt Lodge has six goals and one assist, with senior Charley Pettys owning five goals and three assists. Senior Gabriel Conelian has three goals and one assist, senior defender Jacob Kemper leads the team with five assists and freshman Bryan Celis has added a goal and an assist. Freshman Kristoffer Tollefsen has two assists, with Steven Perinovic and Asher adding goals.
Van Arsdale has been a weapon in goal for UK, working three shutouts and making 11 starts and logging a 1.27 goals-against average. The Richmond, Va., native has saved 37 shots with three shutouts. Freshman Callum Irving has made three starts, with a 2.00 goals-against average, saving seven shots with one shutout.
FIU (7-4-2, 0-3-1 C-USA) is coming off a 3-2 loss vs. No. 19 SMU in Miami on Wednesday night. The Panthers started the season on a five-match winning streak under first-year head coach Kenny Arena, including a 3-1 win at Wisconsin. FIU owns wins over Bryant, North Florida, Jacksonville, Wisconsin, UIC, Howard and Stetson, with losses vs. No. 21 Furman, UCF, UAB and SMU, tying South Carolina and Missouri-Kansas City.
The Panthers have netted 20 goals through their first 13 games, averaging 1.54 goals per game and 15.6 shots a contest. FIU owns an impressive 97-57 advantage in corner kicks and defensively boast a 1.10 goals-against average.
FIU has been led individually by Quentin Albrecht, who has eight goals and one assist, firing 52 shots. Colby Burdette has four goals and four assists, Nicolas Rodriguez has three goals and three assists, while Daniel Gonzalez and Lyle Lindquist lead the team with five assists each. In goal, Robin Spiegel has started all 13 games, with a 1.11 goals-against average, saving 38 shots with one shutout.
UK leads the all-time series with FIU, 5-2-1, including a 3-0 all-time record in games played in Lexington. In the meeting last year, FIU got a goal in the 100th minute with 33 seconds remaining in overtime from Robert De Sousa off a physical play on a corner kick. In the last meeting at UK, The Wildcats got a Riggs goal in the 88th minute, on an assist from Pettys, with UK working a four-save shutout.
