Men's Soccer Set for Midweek Clash at ETSU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.  – The No. 23 Kentucky men’s soccer team will face its final test before the start of the Conference USA portion of the schedule, on Wednesday at East Tennessee State University.

The match at Summers-Taylor Stadium is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. ETSU will live stream the match here: http://bit.ly/1iMsMlk.

Kentucky enters the match 2-1-1 (W-L-D) this season.  UK drew 0-0 with the Memphis Tigers in a matchup of old Conference USA rivals last Saturday.

Kentucky will begin the C-USA season following Wednesday’s matchup, at Marshall on Saturday.

The setup

Having been so successful for much of last season with an emphasis on defending first, and having recorded double-digit shutouts in 2014, Kentucky conceded at least a goal in its first three matches of this year. 

That trend changed on Saturday. All-American goalie Callum Irving recorded his first clean sheet of the season, leading UK to a point in a scoreless draw.

The Wildcats will look to build on that defensive solidity on Saturday, in addition to increasing the offensive pressure they put on the opponent.

The Wildcats have been scoreless in the last two outings, after scoring two goals in each of their first two matches of the season.

The opponent

Kentucky and ETSU have played three years in a row. The Wildcats have gone 2-1 against the Bucs during that span, including a 2-0 win at The Bell last year.

ETSU won the last match the two teams played in Johnson City, Tennessee 1-0, in 2013.

ETSU is 1-2-1 this season with a win over High Point and losses to No. 8 Clemson and Appalachian State. The Bucs drew Radford 1-1.