No. 25 Kentucky men’s soccer (6-2-3, 3-1-0 Sun Belt) lost its second straight game 2-1 against No. 14 Indiana (9-3-1, 3-3-0 Big Ten) at home while missing two key players. 

The Wildcats were missing two of their biggest contributors in the loss including leading scorer Alex Ruiz and forward Isaiah Chisolm. 

These missing pieces in Kentucky’s offence played a role in the Wildcats struggling to generate goals.

Ruiz missed the game after suffering an injury in the previous 4-1 loss to Marshall. Chisolm is currently serving a suspension from the same contest after committing a penalty resulting in a red card. 

Both players have been crucial to the Wildcats’ offense, with Chisolm scoring four goals in the last five games.

“Unfortunately for us we have several guys out,” Head Coach Johan Cedergren said. “At the same time, if you have 26 guys you can’t be dependent on one.”

The absence of these players was obvious as Kentucky was slow out of the gate. 

The Cats were having a hard time creating good opportunities early, most of the shots being last ditch efforts and not very efficient. 

On the other hand, Indiana was creating great opportunities but could not convert due to Kentucky’s back line blocking passing lanes in front of the goal. 

Kentucky struck first with Joaquin Brizuela scoring a header, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.

After this goal Kentucky did start to look better but a foul committed by Josh Gordon in the 63rd minute seemed to completely kill the momentum. 

This foul in Kentucky’s box rewarded the Hoosiers with a penalty kick which Palmer Ault converted to tie the match 1-1. 

After this, Indiana took full control and Ault scored again in the 78th minute putting the Hoosiers up 2-1. 

This let Indiana drop into an ultra-defensive formation, locking up Kentucky fully for the remainder of the game.  

“Two top 20 teams play, you want to get a win, you want to get a couple good wins for the selection committee,” Cedergren said.

Kentucky’s schedule is tough going forward facing No. 24 Georgia Southern and No. 3 West Virginia in its next three matchups. 

Those will have to wait as the Wildcats return to action on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. in Lexington, hosting the South Carolina Gamecocks in a key Sun Belt Conference matchup.