Alex Ruiz Scores Brace in Kentucky Debut, Wildcats Top Western Michigan 2-1 in Season Opener
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kentucky Wildcats are officially 1-0 after a gritty, 2-1 win on the road over No. 20 Western Michigan (0-1) in the kickoff the 2025 collegiate season.
The Wildcats (1-0) earned their first win of the new season by way of a legendary two-goal performance from newcomer Alex Ruiz in his Kentucky debut. Kentucky has now won each of their last five season-opening matches and improves to 10-1 over the previous 11 seasons dating back to 2015.
Ruiz put the Cats on the board in the early going, opening both the Wildcats’ 2025 season scoring account and his own in blue and white with a goal in the 21st minute. The Spanish-International won the one v. one battle with Western Michigan goalkeeper Timi Adams from just outside the 18-yard box after a beautiful headed assist from Virginia transfer forward Joaquin Brizuela.
After 45 minutes of play in Kalamazoo, Kentucky would maintain a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard heading into the halftime break.
Following the intermission, the Wildcats continued to control the pace of play, forcing Western Michigan and its defense into facing consistent pressure in their final third. The Broncos would eventually break through the Wildcat defense as defender Braxton Arpachinda would equalize for the home side in the 75th minute, coming off an assist from midfielder Connor Burkett.
In the 76th minute, less than two minutes of gametime after WMU tied the scoreline at one, Ruiz would secure his first career brace for UK with his second goal of the night to give the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage in the late stages after a deflected attempt from junior forward Isaiah Chisolm.
Western Michigan would fail to respond to Ruiz’s second goal, as Kentucky would complete the upset of the nation’s 20th-ranked program and secure the 2-1 win in the 2025 season opener.
Eight players, including five starters, made their Wildcat debut tonight in Kalamazoo, including Ruiz, Brizuela, goalkeeper Sebastian Conlon, defenders Sinan Solmaz and Dan McHale, midfielder Kevin Larsson and forwards Gustav Renman and Danny Isaac.
Kentucky controlled the possession throughout the match, resulting in a 57% to 43% differential on the stat sheet. Ruiz provided the offense tonight for the Cats with his pair of goals, and the backline of Josh Gordon, Marqes Muir, Solmaz and Kaden Pollard held the Broncos to just two shots on target, forcing Conlon into just one save in the full 90 minutes.
Following the win in Kalamazoo, the Wildcats will return to Lexington for their home opener and the beginning of a five-match homestand on Monday, Aug. 25 against the Bellarmine Knights at 7:30 p.m. ET at The Bell Soccer Complex.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s soccer team, follow @UKMensSoccer on X, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
