Kentucky men’s soccer keeps rolling with game-winner from Wiliams
Senior Tanner Hummel (22) celebrates with JJ Williams (7) after scoring a penalty kick. No.3 University of Kentucky men’s soccer team defeated University of Evansville 4-0 on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Michael Clubb | Staff
October 28, 2018
The No. 3 UK men’s soccer team closed out its regular season road schedule with a win Sunday afternoon. UK defeated the Florida Atlantic University Owls, 2-1, in Boca Raton, Florida, following a go-ahead goal from J.J. Williams in the 87th minute.
The Cats improve to 14-1-1 (6-1 C-USA) following the conference victory. On the other hand, FAU, who sits near the bottom in the C-USA standings, drops to 2-11 (1-5 C-USA).
After starting off with a 4-1 shots advantage in the first 30 minutes, UK took a step further in the 32nd minute. Freshman Nicolai Fremstad found Reyes and gave the ball to him. Reyes curled it into the right side of the netting.
UK entered halftime with a 6-1 shots advantage, with all six of UK’s shots being on goal. The Cats forced Owls’ goalkeeper Hagay Jalon to make five saves in the half.
FAU was down, but not out, and provided an equalizer in the 70th minute. FAU’s Jean Paul Rafols scored to tie the game 1-1. A shot deflected off of UK goalkeeper Enrique Facusse and Rafols sent the ball into the left corner of the net.
Hoping to avoid overtime, the Cats leaned on their best scorer in Williams. Williams scored with barely two minutes left in regulation for his 14th goal this season. FAU could not do anything else with what little time they had.
UK now sits atop the C-USA standings, but that could change depending on how the matchup between Old Dominion University and FIU goes later today at 6 p.m. ODU and FIU were in a three-way tie with the Cats for first place before UK’s game Sunday.
UK will play its final regular season match this Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. against Old Dominion University at The Bell. The game will be UK’s senior night and could decide who will finish to be the number one ranked team in the C-USA standings this season.
