Kentucky Men's Soccer Starts Season Strong With Shutout Win Over FGCU

Kentucky Men’s Soccer is already showing why they started the 2023 season ranked No. 3 in the nation.

The No. 3 Wildcats took on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in the team’s season opener on Thursday night at The Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington. Although both teams got off to a slow start, UK cranked it up near the end of the first half to gain momentum and keep it until the end. The ‘Cats — projected to repeat as Sun Belt Conference champions — went on to shut out FGCU 3-0.

To start the game, co-captains for UK, sophomore and Lexington native Max Miller and fifth-year Mason Visconti, took the field along with a few returners and quite a bit of new faces. One of the starting returners was junior Casper Grening, who was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference. A new face that took to the pitch was grad transfer Finn Ballard McBride, who has been recognized as a player to watch by the United Soccer Coaches.

Miller’s back and better than ever

In the 11th minute, Miller found an opening and made his way towards the goal where he was able to knock the ball into the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the goal was not awarded to UK as Miller was ruled offsides.

It was uneventful for both squads up until the 30′ when Kentucky was fouled in the box, giving them a penalty kick. Senior transfer and former Louisville player Aboubacar Camara took the kick for the ‘Cats and put them on the board 1-0 after a brief rocky start.

🚨GOAL KENTUCKY🚨

After a foul in the box, @UKMensSoccer was awarded a penalty and transfer Aboubacar Camara drills the kick into the back of the net to get the ‘Cats on the board first at 1-0 in the 31’.

UK: 1
FGCU: 0@ZGeogheganKSR pic.twitter.com/sm54X3pYVz

— katelyn perkins (@KPerkinsKSR) August 25, 2023

Big first half for UK

The match remained quiet into the 40th minute as neither team could seem to make any headway towards a goal. But the quietness was broken in the 44′ when Miller found newcomer Logan Dorsey who was able to break away and make it 2-0 going into the half.

Right out of the intermission, both teams were playing physically with multiple fouls on both sides. On a Kentucky run away, Miller was making his way toward another goal but was stopped by an Eagles player who was able to get the ball back and take it towards their end of the field.

Both sides were holding possession well until Ballard McBride found an opening and kicked a laser into the net in the 61st minute. This goal put the ‘Cats up three to nil with a little under 30 minutes to go.

🚨GOAL KENTUCKY🚨

After a slow start to the second half, graduate transfer Ballard McBride breaks free and scores his first regular season goal as a Wildcat in the 61’.

Ballard McBride was greeted following his goal by the UK bench who is warming up.

UK: 3
FGCU: 0 pic.twitter.com/1try6AN3s7

— katelyn perkins (@KPerkinsKSR) August 25, 2023

Florida Gulf Coast had their fair share of shots on goal, however, Kentucky’s star goalkeeper and the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Casper Mols, was there to stop each one of them. Mols ended the game with three saves and no goals allowed.

UK had a few more chances to add to their lead late in the game, but the side posts got the best of them. In the final minutes of the match, the Eagles had one last shot of their own but were unable to capitalize on it as the ‘Cats got the shutout victory in their first regular season match of the year.

Coming up for the ‘Cats is a matchup against East Tennessee State on Monday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. back at The Bell.