For the UK men’s soccer team, Tuesday was an opportunity missed.
The No. 13 Cats (7-2, 0-1 Conference USA) traveled to Bloomington, Ind., for a premier nonconference match against No. 9 Indiana (5-2-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten Conference). When the final whistle blew however, the Cats were humbled to a tune of 3-0.
Midfielder Lee Hagedorn attempts to block a kick by Kentucky's Chris Jumalon Tuesday evening at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers won 3-0. Photo by Alex Farris | IDS
Entering the season, the talk of the team was consistent and passionate: now is the time.
After being “snubbed†by the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three years, the Cats went into the 2009 campaign looking to show they were worthy of dancing at the end of the season.
Indiana came out strong in the first half and took it to the Cats, out-shooting them five to one, with all but one of their shots being on goal, and the Cats’ lone shot, a header by senior defender Barry Rice off a corner kick, sailing over the cross bar.
Missing for the Cats was freshman midfielder and leading goal scorer Matt Lodge. Lodge sat out with a right ankle injury.
Indiana got on the board 30 minutes into the match with a goal from junior forward Andy Adlard. It was only the second first-half goal UK had allowed all season, and it was Indiana’s first, first-half goal of the season.
In the second half, the Cats came out more aggressive and created more attempts to score. It proved to not be enough, however, as Adlard netted his second goal of the match.
Three minutes later, Indiana freshman midfielder Nick Blevins found the back of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
The game was seen as an opportunity for the Cats to make a statement to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Instead, a 3-0 defeat against one of college soccer’s most prestigious programs will leave the Cats going back to the drawing board.
The Cats will hit the pitch again Sunday at home against the University of Alabama-Birmingham at 2:30 p.m.
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