Reid’s Brace Lifts UK Over FAU for Third-Straight Win
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Xahne Reid broke the what had been an hour-long deadlock when he hit a 35-yard screamer into the right upper 90 to lift Kentucky past Florida Atlantic on Sunday.
The freshman added a goal with 61 seconds remaining to seal the result at 3-0. Stefan Stojkovic scored his third goal from the last two matches in the 68th minute.
Kentucky won its third straight game, bringing its 2015 record to 5-2-1 (W-L-D) this season. Kentucky is unblemished in the conference at 2-0-0 with a trip to No. 7 New Mexico coming up next weekend.
The Wildcats have kept clean sheets in all three of those wins. Goalkeeper Callum Irving recorded his 21st career shutout, moving him within one of tying the UK all-time record.
The goals
Just before the hour-mark Reid controlled a deflected ball above the box, brought it to 35 yards out on the turn and then swerved his shot like crazy across the face of goal into the side-netting. The goal from nothing unlocked the FAU Owls (0-7-1, 0-2-0 C-USA) defense that for nearly 60 minutes had not allowed a decent UK chance, although they didn’t create much in attack either.
But once the goal mouth opened, the UK offense began flowing forward.
Nearly 10 minutes after the initial breakthrough, Stojkovic got on the end of a through-ball from Reid to make it 2-0. The sophomore forward has scored his first three goals of the season in the last two matches, taking him to one goal better than his tally from a year ago.
But it was Reid’s day, and after looking lively in multiple forays forward following his golazo opener he smashed another into the net with just more than a minute to play.
The quote
“It was a great team win,” defender Jordan Wilson said. “It’s been tough games that we’ve dropped points from in the past. To takes points where we’re meant to take points is a big boost for the team. Three clean sheets, three wins going into New Mexico sets us up nicely.”
The notes
Reid has brought a new element to UK’s front-four in recent matches as evidenced by the speedster’s team-leading point-total (nine) with three goals and three assists, all in the last four matches.
Nicholas Bigilin started in central defense – alongside Jordan Wilson, Charlie Reymann and Tanner Hummel – in his first career match, helping preserve UK’s third straight clean sheet. The shutout moved goalkeeper Callum Irving to within one of the all-time school record: 22, which is shared by Brian O’Leary (1997-00) and Andy Gruenebaum (2002-05).
Kentucky moved to 3-0-1 against FAU all-time.
