Matsoso’s Curler Gives Men's Soccer 1-0 win at Marshall
Huntington, W.Va. – The No. 23 Kentucky men’s soccer team needed a win.
A clean sheet plus a brilliant Napo Matsoso goal with 11 minutes to play was enough to secure all three points against Marshall on Saturday.
Matsoso – a MAC Hermann Award Watch List member – controlled a ball from freshman Xahne Reid atop the box, took a few touches to create space for himself and curled his shot into the right upper-90, past the fully-stretched goalie.
The finish came just in the nick of time for the Wildcats, who entered the match having taken one point – a draw against Memphis last Saturday – from their last three matches.
The goal was indicative of the uncommon skill the preseason All-American is capable of. More importantly it was the difference in UK’s first Conference USA game of the season.
Goalkeeper Callum Irving – also a Hermann Award Watch List member – kept his second clean sheet of the season, behind a slightly tweaked back-four of Charlie Reymann, Jordan Wilson, Alex Bumpus and Tanner Hummel.
The quote
“One moment of brilliance from Napo and the rest of the game was a grind,” senior co-captain Kristoffer Tollefsen said. “I’m super proud of this team. We never stopped. The shutout was a confidence boost. It was something we emphasized since the last game, and I’m glad we got it.”
The notes
Kentucky moved to 3-2-1 (W-L-D) this season, and undefeated (1-0-0) in league play. Marshall dropped to 4-3-0 this season.
Matsoso’s goal was his second of the season. Both of his goals have been game-winners. He scored the winner on a penalty, that he drew, in UK’s 2-0 result at home against Marshall last season.
Reid’s assist was his third point of the week, as he scored midweek against East Tennessee State University. The freshman made his first career start on Saturday.
Kentucky improved to 5-3-3 all-time in C-USA openers.
The Wildcats are now 18-7-3 all-time against Marshall. UK has now won four-straight matches against Marshall, all in shutouts.
Kentucky will take on Eastern Illinois on Tuesday at The Bell.
