No. 14 Kentucky to Open Season at No. 25 Coastal Carolina
CONWAY, S.C. – Just 16 weeks after closing the book on its previous season, No. 14 Kentucky is set to open its 2021 campaign on the road against No. 25 Coastal Carolina on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+.
The contest will mark the Chanticleers’ first as an affiliate member of Conference USA.
Last season, Kentucky posted a 12-5-2 record and reached the NCAA Championship round of 16 for the third time in program history. The Wildcats return nine of the 11 players who started the 2020 season’s final contest, including team captains Marcel Meinzer and Bailey Rouse.
Meinzer and fellow senior Robert Screen were named to the 2021 C-USA Preseason Team last Monday, following 2020 All-C-USA performances for both players that included C-USA Co-Midfielder of the Year honors for Meinzer.
Coastal Carolina finished 9-5-2 a season ago, winning both the Sun Belt regular season title and league tournament crown. The Chanticleers fell in the second round of the 2020 NCAA Championship to the same Wake Forest squad that went on to defeat Kentucky four days later.
Coastal Carolina is one of three opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 that Kentucky is scheduled to face this season, all coming during conference play. The Wildcats were predicted to finish third in the C-USA standings behind No. 1 Marshall and No. 18 Charlotte, while the Chanticleers were picked to finish fourth.
Admission to all 2021 UK soccer matches at Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex is free to the public. 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.
