Men's Soccer
Pedersen Fires UK to Conference-USA Opening Win v UAB

Pedersen Fires UK to Conference-USA Opening Win v UAB

by Ryan Cox

UK improves to 4-0-1

Photo Gallery | Highlights | Box Score | Bumpus Interview
 
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mikkel Pederson ensured Kentucky earned all three points to begin its Conference USA schedule and remained unbeaten overall, scoring dramatically in the 86th minute to give UK a 1-0 victory over the University of Alabama-Birmingham in front of 1,921 fans at The Bell on Friday.
 
Kentucky improved to 4-0-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the league. UK is off to it’s best start since beginning 2011 with an identical record.

The goal
The points were certainly anyone’s to grab as the match entered the final 10 minutes of regulation. Both teams had chances, limited as they were, throughout.

UK’s attacking revelation Pedersen seized the match by the scruff of the neck scoring the game’s only goal with four minutes to play.

Pedersen’s goal came from a terrific cross to the back post from Montgomery, Alabama product JJ Williams. It was Pedersen’s second goal of the season – and second in as many games – and Williams’ first assist. It was only the second goal that UAB has conceded this season.
 
The quote
“We knew going into it that it was going to be an important game obviously first conference game,” Bumpus said. “There are some big boys out there on the field, but as long as we played our game we knew that we would come out on top.
 
“At halftime we kept talking about that the goal will come. We will get our chances even if they make saves, even in the 90th minute but we are going to get our chances.”
 

The first half
It was a back and forth first half with both teams having equal scoring opportunities firing five shots apiece. UAB had the advantage in corner kicks 4-2.

The second half
Kentucky’s offense started to click in the second half when just before the hour mark, Connor Probert served a ball in from the right side to the back post to find Andrew McKelvey. His header forced a desperation save from the UAB goalkeeper, resulting in one of UK’s five corners in the second half.
 
Reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Enrique Facusse made three big saves late to keep the score even. The best of the lot was a diving save on a free kick from 23 yards out in the penultimate minute of the 90.
 
The notes
Facusse kept his second clean sheet from as many matches at The Bell, his third overall and improved his goals-against average to 0.55.
 
Kentucky returned home for the first time since winning the season opener and three consecutive away games.

The history
UK improved to 8-6 against UAB all-time. UK attained a measure of revenge for a 2-1 in Birmingham last season, breaking a UK two-match winning streak. UK has an 19-15 goals-for/against advantage in the series.
 
UK is 5-3 v UAB in Lexington, and 2-0 at The Bell in its present configuration (since 2014).
 
The next one
Kentucky’s next game will be back at The Bell on Tuesday, September 12th at 7:30 p.m. against Cincinnati.

 


For the best coverage of UK men’s soccer follow the team’s social media accounts on TwitterFacebook and Instagramin addition to on UKathletics.com.
 

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