Cats to Open C-USA Play at No. 12 Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Having swept both the Conference USA regular season and postseason tournament titles a season ago, No. 17 Kentucky (2-1-1) will face its first league test of 2019 at No. 12 Charlotte (3-0-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The last time the two sides met, it was in the 2018 C-USA Tournament final in the Queen City. The Wildcats claimed a 1-0 decision, completing a season sweep of the 49ers after a regular season victory by the same score two months prior in Lexington, Kentucky.
UK comes into Sunday having tied No. 11 Xavier in its last outing. The Cats faced a two-goal deficit 10 minutes into the second half, but sophomore forward Daniel Evans breathed life back into the team off an assist from Kalil ElMedkhar in the 58th minute. Junior Bailey Rouse’s heel flick served up by Brandon McManus via a corner kick from Marcel Meinzer tied the match 10 minutes later, but neither team could pull away over the next 43 revolutions around the clock.
Charlotte also enters Sunday’s matchup fresh off a draw. The 49ers traveled to the Mountain State for a double-overtime contest with No. 25 West Virginia that ended without a goal for either team last Tuesday.
Either Kentucky or Charlotte has finished atop the C-USA standings in four of the last five seasons. The all-time head-to-head series is tied 4-4-1.
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