By Anthony Crawford

sports@kykernel.com

UK men’s soccer could have come out with a lackadaisical effort from still riding a high off the team’s upset road win over ranked New Mexico. Instead, the Cats came out with an offensive intensity that led the Cats to a 4-1 victory over the University of Evansville Purple Aces.

All-American Napo Matsoso jump-started the offense in the 44th minute off a clearance from an Evansville free kick. He made a solo run on the Purple Ace backline that ended with a shot just inside the box. The shot was saved but midfielder Kevin Barajas came up with the rebound and finished it for his first goal of the season.

The offense continued to revolve around Matsoso as he closed out the half with a screamer from outside the box that found the upper ‘90 for his fourth goal of the season.

The great play of Matsoso continued into the second half as he found junior forward Sam Miller for the third goal of the game.

UK refused to sit on their lead as Matsoso forced a turnover and then found the Cats offensive specialist Stefan Stojkovic, for a one on one opportunity that lead to a goal. This was Stojkovic’s fifth goal of the season,  all of them coming in the last four games.

The UK backline didn’t allow a single shot on goal in the first half and only one in the second half off of a corner kick.

With goalkeeper Callum Irving’s four game shutout streak on the line, he was unable to come up with the stop on their corner kick as Zac Blaydes was able to sneak it past him.

There was no denying Matsoso’s impact on the game as he was involved in every goal for the Cats, ending with one goal, three assists and three shots on goal.

“It all comes from my team. If my teammates weren’t there for me than it’s going to be hard for everyone, but if we all do it together its easier because of how long we’ve been together. We just have to get the right position and right passes and the goals will come,” Matsoso said.