EVANSVILLE – Ian McGrath's 83
rd-minute goal energized a spirited comeback attempt for the University of Evansville men's soccer team on Wednesday night, but in the end, it would prove too late for the Purple Aces as the team dropped a 3-1 decision to visiting No. 15 Kentucky at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
"The result didn't go our way, but we should be proud of ourselves tonight," UE head coach Marshall Ray said. "We went out and battled against the No. 15 team in the country, and now the question is whether we can play with the same intensity and urgency in a conference game. As we continue to mature as a group, we want to be able to play at that level consistently."
The Aces (6-5-1) had put together an impressive fight for much of the night against the Wildcats (7-2-2), but the visitors from Lexington ultimately put the match to rest with a counterattack in the 89
th minute as Napo Matsoso capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity to make it 3-1 with just 10 seconds remaining in the match.
"We didn't play great in the first half, but I thought we did well in the second, even with giving up the goal," Ray said. "You could feel from the energy in the crowd and on the field that it was going to be a matter of time before we got a second. Unfortunately, they were able to score in the last 10 seconds, but I'm always going to push people forward to try and get a win in a game like this."
UK got things started with a scrappy goal in the 15
th minute, with Matsoso lifting it over UE goalkeeper Matthew Keller in the box. That would be the only real threat the Wildcats put together in the opening 45 minutes as UE enjoyed the bulk of possession and limited UK to just two shots.
A Wildcat counter doubled the advantage in the 73
rd minute, with J.J. Williams getting on the end of Charlie Reymann cross to make it 2-0.
However, McGrath had a response 10 minutes later. Simon Waever dribbled past a number of UK defenders on the right flank before delivering a cross to McGrath, who smoothly back-heeled it inside the far post.
"Any time that I see Simon with a one-on-one chance, I know he's going to be able to get past his guy and get to the end line," McGrath said. "He's a quick player. I don't remember the last time we had a guy that fast who could control the ball like he can. I tried to be in the right place at the right time, and I was able to get something on it. That definitely changed the tempo of the game, and I thought we'd still have enough time to get another one back."
UE will return to action next Tuesday as the Aces are set to head back into Missouri Valley Conference play at Central Arkansas.
NOTES: The Aces are 3-1 this season following a loss … UE is 5-8-0 all-time in matches against Kentucky … The Wildcats are the Aces' oldest active opponent as each side met in the second-ever varsity contest in school history in 1974 … The Wildcats won that game 5-0 … The two teams have met in seven consecutive seasons ... Last year, UE fell 4-1 in Lexington, and Wednesday will be the first match since a 5-1 Wildcat win in Evansville in 2014 … The last UE win in the series was a 2-1 decision in Lexington on Oct. 8, 2013 … UE is 7-5-1 all-time on Oct. 5.
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