No. 4 seed Kentucky beats No. 1 seed FIU 3-0
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UK ATHLETICS) – The Wildcats are headed again to the Convention USA Championship closing.
Behind a recreation winner from Luke Andrews and a brace by Daniel Evans, fourth-seeded No. 15 Kentucky (13-1-4) knocked off common season convention champion No. 14 FIU (12-3-2) 3-0 on Friday at Transamerica Area.
Kentucky advances to the match’s championship recreation for the primary time since profitable the occasion on the identical pitch in 2018. The Wildcats will face sixth-seeded Florida Atlantic (9-6-3) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Friday’s semifinal contest began off as a defensive battle, with every crew managing solely two photographs within the first half. The physicality continued into the second body, however the Kentucky offense caught hearth regardless of it.
A counterattack within the 54th minute started with Nick Gutmann streaking down the suitable sideline, the place he misplaced his defender and located Andrews on the bottom for the go-ahead rating from 12 yards out.
Following a second straight yellow card for FIU, the Panthers’ Philip Hildebrandt was whistled for an aggressive deal with on Marcel Meinzer that left the Kentucky midfielder shaken up within the 69th minute. A visual response from fellow crew captain Bailey Rouse drew the Wildcats’ first yellow earlier than Hildebrandt was handed a crimson card for the unique foul and ejected from the match.
Kentucky would end the sport with an 11-on-10 benefit.
Shortly after the scuffle, Enzo Mauriz discovered Gutmann on a run from the suitable wing as soon as once more, the place the first-year Wildcat arrange Evans with a wide-open internet for a routine end within the 76th minute.
With a two-goal lead, Evans corralled a rebound from a shot by Gutmann and scored his second purpose in an 80-second span to notch his first brace since Oct. 27, 2019.
Kentucky finally outshot FIU 10-6 on the night, together with 4-1 on course.
2021 C-USA Goalkeeper of the 12 months and Golden Glove Award winner Jan Hoffelner secured his 10th shutout of the season and his 10th win between the pipes.
Friday marked Kentucky’s first win over FIU since Nov. 7, 2015, in addition to its second consecutive three-goal outburst within the postseason that avenged a scoreless draw with similar opponent within the common season.
The Wildcats ended the common season with a 3-0 win over Florida Atlantic at residence on Nov. 5. The Owls are set to compete within the C-USA Championship closing for the primary time in program historical past.
