Oct. 17, 2009
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| Coach Berson |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (7-4-2, 2-1-1) suffered a 1-0 loss to visiting Kentucky (9-5-0, 2-3-0) on Saturday evening at Stone Stadium.
South Carolina held a 10-7 upperhand in shots and a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks in the match. Sophomore defender Stephen Morrissey, junior midfielder Evan O’Dell, sophomore midfielder Danny Cates and senior midfielder Schuyler Reardon each tallied two shots for Carolina in the match.
Midfielder Matt Lodge led Kentucky with two shots, including the game-winning goal in the sixth minute. In net for UK, goalkeeper Dan Williams collected three saves to earn the shutout, while South Carolina netminder Jimmy Maurer tallied a game-best four saves, while allowing one goal in the loss.
Kentucky scored the lone goal of the match early in the first half. Maurer left his line to clear a high cross into the Gamecock defensive third, but Lodge collected the deflection and scored on the open net for the deciding 1-0 Kentucky advantage.
After even play much of the contest, South Carolina had several chances late in the second half. Carolina’s best threat in the final 45 minutes of play came in the 67th minute. Defender Tyler Ruthven collected a deflection on the Kentucky goal line and sent a pass to Reardon who hit a strong shot just high of the crossbar.
Williams made a save on a Morrissey shot in the 74th minute and Carolina was unable to score the remainder of the half, as the Wildcats closed the 1-0 conference win.
South Carolina ends its five-game homestand when it hosts No. 3 Wake Forest on Tuesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.
