Bains Smith’s 81st Minute Winner Lifts Wildcats Over Gamecocks in Come from Behind 2-1 Win
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats (7-2-3, 4-1-0 SBC) earned their fourth Sun Belt win of the season today in a come from behind effort against the South Carolina Gamecocks (7-5-2, 1-2-2 SBC) in Lexington.
Kentucky improves its all-time record against South Carolina to 15-8-4 win the win today, also improving their overall record this season to 7-2-3, as well as 4-1-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. The Wildcats now sit in a three-way tie for first place in the SBC, along with West Virginia and Marshall, with each team totaling 12 points and four conference wins heading into the final four games of the regular season.
The Wildcats dominated the opening half of play, recording an 11-0 advantage in total shots, including 5-0 on shots on goal, but were unable to find the back of the net. The scoreline would remain 0-0 through the first 45 minutes, despite the abundance of scoring chances in the UK attacking half.
The Gamecocks would ramp up the offensive pressure at the start of the second half and would eventually open the scoring in the 61st minute from the penalty spot, with the goal scored by forward Ethan Ballek to put South Carolina ahead 1-0 with just under a half hour remaining.
The Wildcats would find an equalizer just six minutes later in the 67th minute, also from the penalty spot, with midfielder Agustin Lopez scoring his third goal of the season to knot the score at 1-1 with just over 20 minutes to play.
14 minutes passed before Kentucky found their second goal of the afternoon, as Bains Smith, scoring his first goal of 2025, netting the winner for the Wildcats in the 81st minute. The sophomore forward’s goal would turn out to be enough to lift the Cats over the Gamecocks in a come from behind 2-1 win at The Bell.
After closing out the homestand with the win over South Carolina, the Wildcats head back out on the road to face the No. 24 Georgia Southern Eagles in Statesboro, Ga. on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. ET.
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.
