Nov. 12, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky men’s soccer team will open postseason play with a quarterfinal matchup with No. 27 Old Dominion in the Conference USA Tournament, hosted by Charlotte at Transamerica Field, with kickoff on Wednesday slated for 5:30 p.m. ET.
Kentucky (6-9-3, 3-4-2 C-USA) will face off with the Monarchs in the first round of the league tournament, slated for Wednesday. The Wildcats earned the No. 7 seed in the tournament, with ODU sporting the No. 2 seed, with the Monarchs ranked as high as No. 27 in the latest weekly polls.
The Wildcats are coming off a regular-season finale loss at No. 20 New Mexico, with the Lobos getting a pair of second-half goals for a 2-0 result to claim the league title. The Monarchs finished second in the league with 20 points, owning a 7-2 mark in league action.
The game for Kentucky will mark a rematch of a 2-1 overtime win at ODU on Oct. 4, when the Wildcats rode a two-goal game from senior Brad Doliner for the win, including his golden goal in overtime. UK got a heroic performance in goal from sophomore Callum Irving – a first-team All-Conference USA selection – who saved six shots in the win.
UK has netted 24 goals in 18 games in 2013, allowing 24 with a 1.28 goals-against average. UK has held advantages in shots (280-178) and corners (109-88). UK
The Wildcats have been led in scoring by senior forward Tyler Riggs, who has six goals in 2013 and 29 in his decorated four-year career. Riggs ranks second in UK career history in goals and is in place to become the first player in program history to lead the team in scoring four consecutive seasons. Doliner has five goals and one assist, while sophomore Isak Krogstad owns four goals and three assists. Freshmen Napo Matsoso and Sam Miller each have a goal and four assists, with junior Justin Laird leading the club with six assists. Freshmen Kaelon Fox and Charlie Reymann each have two goals and one assist, with Jacob Scearce adding a goal and two assists. Freshman Ryan Creel has a goal and an assist, with sophomore Bryan Celis sporting three assists. Senior center back Steven Perinovic has a goal, while Kristoffer Tollefsen and Matt Quick owning assists.
In goal for UK, Irving has made 14 starts, with a 1.18 goals-against average and 39 saves, owning five shutouts. Senior Jack Van Arsdale has battled injuries in 2013 but has made four starts and appeared in five games, with a 1.63 goals-against average and seven saves.
Old Dominion (10-4-1, 7-2 C-USA) has had a tremendous season in its first campaign in the league, Over their last 12 games, the Monarchs have suffered just two losses, owning a 9-2-1 record during that span, including the overtime loss to the Wildcats. After suffering the loss to UK to open October, ODU ran off a stretch of five consecutive wins and have been beaten just once in the last seven games, a 3-0 result vs. New Mexico.
The Monarchs have netted 29 goals in 15 games, allowing 22 tallies, owning advantages in shots (268-172) and corners (105-60), sporting a 1.42 goals-against average.
ODU has been led individually by C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Tim Hopkinson, who has 10 goals and four assists. Ivan Militar has four goals and six assists, with Jesse Miralrio owning three goals and three assists. Ryan Condotta and Michael Nelson each have two goals and two assists, with Gideo Asante and Geoffrey Hill sporting two goals and one assist each. In goal, Sean Stowe has a 1.25 goals-against average in 14 games, saving 55 shots with two shutouts.
