By Brent Ingram
Oct. 2, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ranking 10th in the nation in goals-against average, the Kentucky men’s soccer team returns home to host league power Old Dominion, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. on Friday at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. The game will be broadcast live on UKathletics.com’s “UK Tube” subscription service with Neil Price calling the action.
The game will still have SEC Network+ production value, with multiple camera angles and Price’s commentary.
Kentucky (4-3-2, 0-0-1 Conference USA) has suffered just one loss in its last six games, falling to No. 8 Louisville in its last home game on Sept. 23. UK is coming off a scoreless draw at Florida Atlantic on Saturday, riding the sixth shutout of the year from star junior goalkeeper Callum Irving.
UK has opened the year with a grueling schedule, posting wins over No. 1 Notre Dame, Xavier, ETSU and Belmont, also earning ties with FAU and No. 19 Furman. UK’s losses on the year have come at Wright State to open the year, vs. No. 17 Indiana and vs. No. 8 Louisville.
The Wildcats will be facing ODU for the third time in the last two years, with UK posting a pair of thrilling golden-goal, overtime wins over the Monarchs in 2013.
UK posted a 2-1 win at ODU in the 2013 regular season, getting a game-winning tally from senior Brad Doliner – who also scored the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute – in the 98th minute and a six-save outing from Irving.
Justin Laird then gave UK a win in the C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals vs. the Monarchs, netting the game winner in the 93rd minute, with Irving also saving five shots – including a penalty kick in the second half.
The Wildcats have allowed just four goals in nine games in 2014, surrendering tallies at Wright State in the season opener, vs. Indiana in a lightning shortened game, and two goals vs. Louisville in front of a program-record 3,368 at The Bell. Irving has posted the ninth-best goals-against average in the NCAA (0.43), saving 28 shots and posting six shutouts. In his three-year career, Irving has a 0.95 goals-against average and 13 shutouts.
Kentucky currently ranks eighth in shutout percentage (0.67), 10th in goals-against average (0.43) and 11th in save percentage (0.875).
Offensively, UK has been led by Laird, who has netted two goals and tallied one assist. Junior Bryan Celis has a goal and an assist in just five games, with Stefan Stojkovic, Kristoffer Tollefsen, Ryan Creel and Kaelon Fox each netting goals. Sophomore Napo Matsoso – a 2013 Freshman All-Conference USA selection – has two assists, along with Charlie Reymann and Sam Miller. Hampus Agerstrom and Matt Quick each have an assist.
Old Dominion (4-3) is coming off a 2-1 win at Virginia Commonwealth and has only lost once in its last five games, at UNC Wilmington on Sept. 20, an overtime setback. ODU has wins over Northeastern, South Florida, Longwood and VCU, suffering losses at No. 3 Virginia, vs. No. 13 North Carolina and UNC Wilmington.
The Monarchs have netted seven goals in seven games, allowing a 0.70 goals-against average. ODU has been led indivually by Ryan Condotta, who has two goals and one assist. Josue Henriquez and Christian Schroeer each have a goal and an assist, with Sidney Rivera, Geoffrey Hill and Jesse Miralrio each charting a goal. In between the pipes, Alex Tiesenhausen has a 0.70 goals-against average with 35 saves and three clean sheets in seven games.
After UK’s last home game earned a record 3,368 at The Bell, spurred by the promotion of the Abe Out, Kentucky’s marketing arm will be handing out UK Thunder Sticks as part of a Bringing the Thunder promotion. The first 250 Wildcat fans at The Bell will receive UK Thunder Sticks.
Single-game tickets are available at The Bell for cash only, ranging from $5 for adults, $2 for seniors (65+) and Youth (6-18), with children under the age of five admitted for free.
