Kentucky Men's Soccer wins Conference USA championship in overtime

The University of Kentucky Men’s Soccer Team won the Conference USA championship in a 2-1 overtime victory over Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon.

After trailing at the half 1-0, the Wildcats forced extra time with a second-half penalty kick goal. Once in overtime, it took just four minutes for Eythor Bjorgolfsson to find the back of the net for a game-winning golden goal.

C-A-T-S! Champs, champs, champs! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yoMXYOlDnO

— Kentucky Men’s Soccer (@UKMensSoccer) November 14, 2021

Here’s how it all went down.

First Half

The #4 seeded ‘Cats took the first shot of the match in the third minute but it was picked up by the Owl keeper.

It wasn’t until the 16th minute when the scoring began as Florida Atlantic’s Ivan Mykhailenko beat the Kentucky keeper to take an early 1-0 advantage.

Trying to spark the offense, UK head coach Johan Cedergren went to his bench by sending in four new fresh sets of legs.

The change helped play a role in two more shots on goal in the half for the blue and white but none were able to cross the line and FAU took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Second Half

Out of the break, the Kentucky offense came out firing. A pair of shots in the first 10 minutes by Brock Lindow and Enzo Mauriz were stopped by the Owls. The moment of the match in regulation would come in the 59th minute.

Florida Atlantic fouled Kentucky in the box setting up a penalty kick for a potential equalizer.

Working against the Owl keeper Neil Strauber, who on Wednesday helped his team upset Charlotte in penalty kicks, Marcel Meinzer got past the diving Strauber to tie the match at 1-1.

.@marcel_meinzer's first goal of the season is the Wildcats' biggest to date. #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/XtMnwN2ooC

— Kentucky Men’s Soccer (@UKMensSoccer) November 14, 2021

For Meinzer, it was his first goal of the season, and it could not have come at a bigger moment.

Kentucky would have multiple other chances for a go-ahead goal in the next 30 minutes of game action but the Owls were able to withstand and force overtime.

Golden Goal Overtime

The NCAA uses a “golden goal” format in overtime. This means that if a team scores, the match is over regardless of the time remaining.

It was FAU that would have the first chance of overtime with a corner kick in the 91st minute. Off the kick, Alonso Coello Camarero got an attempt on a shot for the Owls, but it sailed left.

From there, the moment was born for Kentucky. A cross was sent into the box where Bjorgolfsson at first misplayed the ball. However, he got a second effort and made the most of it to find the back of the net and win the match.

Eythor Bjorgolfsson Golden Goal! ⚽️✨@UKMensSoccer wins the #CUSAMSOC Championship in overtime! pic.twitter.com/HJHncT4Tqp

— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 14, 2021

The win gave Kentucky its second C-USA men’s soccer title and the 11th overall in program history. It also solidifies a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats are expected to host opening-round matches in Lexington. The NCAA will announce the full field on Monday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET. Of the 48 teams that make the tournament, 16 receive first-round byes. Kentucky seemed to solidify one of those byes with the win on Sunday afternoon.