No. 13 UK men’s soccer falls to conference opponent ODU

Junior+Mikkel+Pederson+dribbles+past+a+defender+during+the+game+against+Xavier+on+Wednesday%2C+September+20%2C+2017+in+Lexington%2C+Ky.+Kentucky+tied+Xavier+1-1.+Photo+by+Carter+Gossett+%7C+Staff

Junior Mikkel Pederson dribbles past a defender during the game against Xavier on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky tied Xavier 1-1. Photo by Carter Gossett | Staff

Mohammad Ahmad

The Wildcats hit the road for Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday in search of their second consecutive win. However, No. 13 Kentucky lost to the Old Dominion University Monarchs 2-0. This marks Kentucky’s first conference loss this season.

Both teams came into the match as the top two C-USA teams so far in the season. Winning in Norfolk has proven to be a challenge for ODU’s opponents this year as the Monarchs are 4-1 there. However, the Monarchs had to deal with facing Enrique Facusse, who is ranked 15th in the country with a goals-against average of 0.51.

Old Dominion wasted no time establishing their presence by scoring in the opening minute. Kentucky attempted to respond as Mikkel Pedersen fired a shot on goal in the 16th minute and missed. He had a curling shot later 19 minutes later which led to the first corner kick of the match.

Once the second half opened, the Cats immediately had a quick corner kick but failed to capitalize on it. In the 50th minute, the Monarchs put the finishing touches on their victory with another goal to make it 2-0.

The 6-2-2 Wildcats will return home to The Bell on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. to face the South Carolina Gamecocks.