Kentucky Earns First Conference Point in 1-1 Draw at UCF
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Kentucky Wildcats (0-5-3, 0-1-1 SBC) returned to Sun Belt Conference play today and earned a 1-1 draw against the UCF Knights (4-2-3, 0-1-1 SBC) in Orlando, Fla. at the UCF Track and Soccer Complex.
Both teams created solid goal scoring opportunities in the opening 10 minutes of the match, with forward Costa Iliadis and UCF’s Alex Partera both hitting the crossbar but unable to secure an early lead for either side.
The Knights opened the scoring in the 31st minute following a shot from Younes Boudinar, his first goal of the season, that took a deflection off two Kentucky defenders and past goalkeeper Benjamin Rasmussen into the back of the net to give UCF a 1-0 lead. That lead would continue to stand for the Knights heading into the halftime break.
Less than a minute into the second half of play, the Wildcats found an equalizer after midfielder Ari Saliu’s shot across the face of goal struck the left post and the rebound fell to defender Gustav Renman, who slotted home the second attempt to level the score at 1-1. That goal represented Renman’s first career goal in his second season with the Wildcats and Kentucky’s fastest second half score of the 2026 season thus far.
In the 70th minute, Rasmussen came up with his fourth save of the day with an impressive stop diving to his left to keep out a left-footed attempt from the Knights’ Joachim Kyei, maintaining the 1-1 scoreline.
Over the final 20 minutes, neither side was able to find a winning goal, as the Wildcats would go on to secure their first points of Sun Belt Conference play in a 1-1 draw in Orlando.
Both teams recorded seven total shots, with the Knights leading 4-2 in attempts on goal. Kentucky defensive backline, featuring Cianole Nguepissi, Max Schrader, Mats Brune and Renman, turned in a solid performance on the road, holding UCF to the one goal, while Rasmussen was forced to make four saves on the afternoon.
The Wildcats will return to The Bell on Friday, Oct. 2 for a meeting against the 15th-ranked Old Dominion Monarchs at 7 p.m. ET.
For the latest on Kentucky Men’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on X, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKAthletics.com.
