Kentucky Outlasts Xavier 2-1 in Overtime
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats (6-1) resumed the 2020-21 season with a bang, outlasting Xavier (1-1) 2-1 in overtime Tuesday at Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
Kentucky’s spring-opening contest was fortified by sophomore forward Eythor Bjorgolfsson, whose sixth career game-winning goal came by way of his first career penalty kick.
Debuting a brand-new lineup after the departures of standout seniors Aimé Mabika and Kalil ElMedkhar to the MLS, Kentucky’s firepower was not lacking in a first half that saw the Wildcats outshoot the Musketeers 8-2 overall and 3-0 on target.
The match’s first goal was punched in by junior forward Brock Lindow, who was on the receiving end of a blocked attempt by Daniel Evans just seconds prior. The left-footed Toronto native corralled the miss just inside the Xavier 18, sizing up a rocket that landed inside the upper-left corner of the net in the 36th minute.
Kentucky took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
Momentum would soon even out, however, as Xavier matched Kentucky’s second-half offensive output by adding three additional shot attempts. The Musketeers’ lone try on target of the day was the 52nd-minute equalizer, scored by Karsen Henderlong off an assist by Jerome Jolly.
Ninety minutes ultimately proved not to be enough, sending the two sides separated by fewer than 90 miles into the fifth consecutive overtime battle of the head-to-head series.
A back-and-forth extra period was halted when a handball was called inside Xavier’s own penalty box in the 97th minute. Bjorgolfsson lined up for the golden-goal opportunity, outmaneuvering goalkeeper Matthew Rosenberg with a right-footed line drive to the lower-left corner.
Bjorgolfsson, along with team captain Bailey Rouse, led all players on the day with three shots apiece. Kentucky keeper Ryan Troutman improved his season record between the pipes to 5-0.
The Cats are set to return to the Bell on Saturday, hosting Bowling Green in the Falcons’ first test of the season at 3 p.m. ET.
Admission is free to all spring 2021 soccer matches. To purchase a fan cutout of a person or pet, visit UKAthletics.com/FanCutouts. For the latest on the Kentucky men’s soccer team, follow @UKMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
