Men’s Soccer Set to Open 2024 Match Slate on Thursday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s soccer is set to open the 2024 season on Thursday at The Bell Soccer Complex for an 8 p.m. EST contest against Oral Roberts.
The Cats will host the Golden Eagles in the second match of a doubleheader with the women’s soccer program who will be taking on Detroit Mercy at 5:30 p.m.
Historically, Kentucky and Oral Roberts have not faced off on the pitch. Thursday’s season opener will begin a new series between the two programs.
In the preseason, Kentucky was slotted No. 4 in the Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll as well as No. 22 in TopDrawSoccer’s preseason rankings. In addition to the team’s recognition, sophomore Isaiah Chisolm and junior Casper Mols were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. The Wildcats enter the fresh season with a squad comprised of 12 returners and 15 newcomers.
In the 2023 season, Kentucky saw its fifth consecutive visit to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, back-to-back upsets of nationally ranked No. 1 and No. 2, a second-round conference tournament match to reach a final season record of 8-8-4.
Thursday’s match promotions will include Bark at The Bell with a chew toy giveaway for the women’s friendly and bandana giveaway for the men’s contest. Season schedule t-shirts will also be available while supplies last, as well as cornhole and free pizza for fans.
A maximum of (1) dog per person is permitted. Dogs must stay on the grass berm and are not permitted in the seating bowl at any time (this includes using the restrooms, concessions, or bookstore). Owners are permitted to bring a water bowl for their dog, but dog food is prohibited. Kentucky Athletics reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog or require a dog to exit the stadium.
Bring your dog to Bark at The Bell if he/she:
- Does well on-leash and is not aggressive toward people or other dogs
- Is friendly toward humans and not excessively fearful
- Is on a leash and supervised by an adult at all times
Participants are expected to practice responsible pet ownership. If your dog is an aggressive breed or has aggressive tendencies, do not bring him/her to this event. Do not bring your dog if it is unpredictable in crowds, with other dogs, and/or with strangers. Kentucky Athletics reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog or require a dog to leave for any reason.
Big Blue Nation can purchase single match, group, and season tickets by clicking here. Tickets will also be available for purchase upon arrival to The Bell. Gates will open one hour prior to kick off.
Live stats will be available for the match against Oral Roberts by clicking here. Fans can also stream the contest live on ESPN+.
For the latest on Kentucky Men’s Soccer, follow @UKMensSoccer on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
