Wildcats Face Old Dominion on SBC Decision Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats (10-2-3, 7-1-0 SBC) are set to close out the 2025 regular season tomorrow night in Norfolk, Va. against the Old Dominion Monarchs (5-5-6, 1-3-4 SBC) at the ODU Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.
The Wildcats are fresh off a 1-0 win over the Georgia State Panthers on senior night to clinch the Sun Belt Regular Season Title for the second time in program history since joining the conference in 2022. Isaiah Chisolm’s fifth goal of the season in the 81st minute secured the three points in front of the home crowd and the necessary win to clinch the top spot in the SBC Tournament, starting on Nov. 9.
The week prior, defeated back-to-back ranked opponents in No. 20 Georgia Southern on Oct. 22 in Statesboro and No. 10 West Virginia in Lexington. Senior midfielder Kevin Larsson earned the Wildcats’ first SBC weekly honor of the season for his performance during that week by scoring two goals in the win over Georgia Southern and the game-winning assist to Alex Ruiz against the Mountaineers.
Ruiz continues to lead the Wildcats in offensive production with seven goals, four assists and 18 points on the season. In his first year at Kentucky, the Spanish-international has recorded two multi-goal performances thus far in 2025, first in the season-opening win over Western Michigan and the 14th hat-trick in program history against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 9.
Old Dominion enters the final week of the 2025 regular season at 5-5-6 on the season and 1-3-4 in SBC play, currently sitting in seventh in the conference table. Their most recent result came in the form of a 1-1 draw against James Madison on Friday. That result came after a 0-0 draw at home against No. 11 Marshall on Oct. 26.
The Monarchs are led on the offensive end by forward Lewis Rourke with six goals and three assists on the season and by Alex Kryazhev with two goals and a team-high six assists. On the defensive side of the ball, goalkeeper Michael Statham has started 14 of the 15 games this season between the posts for ODU, recording 48 saves and four clean sheets.
Kickoff for Kentucky vs. Old Dominion is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, streaming on ESPN+
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