Rouse, Damge, Andrews Lead UK Men’s Soccer Comeback Win Over Duquesne

LEXINGTON, KY. – The UK men’s soccer team went down by a goal in the first half for the second game running, but the Wildcats once again came back in convincing fashion to defeat Duquesne, 3-1, on Sunday at The Bell. 

 

No. 17 Kentucky improved to 4-0-1 overall this season, having scored nine goals and conceding just two on the year. 

“Good result, good momentum builder going into Western Michigan next weekend,” UK Assistant Coach Josh Oldroyd said. “I think we’re coming off the back of an emotional rivalry win at Louisville. This was always going to be a tough game against Duquesne. They’re a good side. They’d strung together three straight wins before they came here. They scored first, they’re good  on the counter in transition.

“In the end we had some good attacking quality. Really happy for Ben Damge to get his first goal here for Kentucky and happy for Luke and Bailey to score as well. All and all a really good performance and we have a week now to get ready for Western Kentucky, which is going to be a really tough game.”

 

After going behind 1-0 in the 25th minute, senior captain Bailey Rouse got UK on level terms three minutes before the interval, converting the first penalty of his career after a visiting defender was whistled for a hand ball in the box. 

 

UK came out in the second half on the front foot and the Wildcats were rewarded with a go-ahead goal for their probing activity just before the hour mark. Damge finished off a lovely delivery from Robert Screen after Martin Soereide headed it back into the mix and into Damge’s path for a finish from point-blank range. 

 

Luke Andrews put the game out of reach three minutes later after finishing another stellar delivery from Screen. Andrews scored his second goal of the season and has now scored in each of UK’s last two games. 

 

Screen tallied his first two assists of the season. Goalkeeper Ryan Troutman made his first appearance of the year, as head coach Johan Cedergren got multiple players some of their first significant minutes of the season. 

 

The Wildcats will take a full week off before welcoming Western Michigan to The Bell next Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. 

 

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.