UCF jumped out to a 1-0 lead on 18th-ranked Kentucky on Wednesday but could not hold the lead as the Wildcats rallied for two second half goals to complete their 2-1 victory.
Zak Boggs scored the long goal for UCF in the 37th minute.
It was the third straight ranked opponent for the Golden Knights, who defeated Memphis and drew UAB last week at home.
The Knights return home on Saturday to play the top-ranked team in the country, SMU at 7 at the UCF Soccer Complex. Remember to get out and support the home team as admission is FREE to all UCF soccer games this season. More on the UCF-UK game:
Junior Michael D’Agostino recorded a goal and an assist to lead No. 18 Kentucky to a 2-1 second half win over UCF in Conference USA men’s soccer action at UK Soccer Complex on Wednesday night.
Playing its third ranked opponent in a week, UCF (3-7-1, 1-2-1 C-USA) opened the game on the attack as it recorded the first four shots of the match. The Golden Knights’ defense kept the Wildcats (9-3-1, 2-1-0 SEC) without a shot until the 18th minute when sophomore goalkeeper Marcus Rein (Scotts Valley, Calif./Edison Academic Center) made a save on freshman Mark Halma’s header.
In the 37th minute, UCF found the back of the net. Sophomore Zak Boggs (Vienna, W.Va./The Pendleton School) accepted a pass from freshman Andy Masteller (St. John, Ind./Andrean HS) at the left side of the box and beat UK freshman goalkeeper Dan Williams low to the far post.
The Golden Knights held onto the 1-0 lead until the 58th minute. D’Agostino took a pass from Brad Frederick on the left side and scored when he volleyed into the ground and the ball bounced over Rein. Just over a minute later, the Wildcats grabbed the advantage on a goal by Barry Rice low to the short side. D’Agostino assisted.
Down by a goal, UCF continued to battle for the win. In the 76th minute, sophomore Ryan Roushandel (Atlanta, Ga./The Marist School) took advantage when two Wildcat defender collided in the middle of the box and the ball free. His bullet from 18 yards was headed off the line at the near post.
Williams made two saves in the victory, while Rein had eight.
“It’s hard to lose a game like this,” said UCF head coach Brent Erwin. “We played well, but Kentucky really took the initiative in the opening minutes of the second half. Now we have to take what we’ve learned and get ready for SMU.”
The Golden Knights return home to host No. 1 SMU on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
Admission to home UCF men’s soccer matches for the 2006 season is free courtesy of McDonald’s. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com – the official site for UCF athletics.