Wildcats down Florida Atlantic 2-1 to win C-USA title
UPDATE POSTED 8 P.M. SUNDAY, NOV. 14, 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UK Athletics) – The Kentucky Wildcats are 2021 Convention USA champions.
Kentucky earned its second C-USA Match crown in program historical past and its eleventh general convention title on Sunday.
The 13-1-4 Wildcats, seeded fourth within the event and ranked fifteenth within the nation, defeated sixth-seeded Florida Atlantic (9-6-3) by a rating of 2-1 in extra time of the C-USA Championship ultimate at Transamerica Subject.
Marcel Meinzer ignited the Cats’ comeback effort with a penalty kick within the second half, whereas Eythor Bjorgolfsson scored the golden purpose simply over three minutes into extra time.
Enjoying within the C-USA Championship ultimate for the primary time ever, Florida Atlantic struck first on Sunday with a mix from Pontus Steffensen to Ivan Mykhailenko within the sixteenth minute.
After a comparatively stagnant first half during which every crew managed solely three shot makes an attempt, Kentucky trailed on the break for the primary time all season.
However, momentum swung within the Wildcats’ favor throughout a second half during which Kentucky in the end outshot Florida Atlantic 9-1.
Alternative offered itself within the sixtieth minute when UK defender Luis Grassow was fouled on a run into the FAU penalty field, organising Kentucky’s second penalty kick of the season.
Meinzer iced the kick straight down the center, securing the first-team All-C-USA midfielder’s first purpose of his senior marketing campaign.
The rating remained in a 1-1 impasse for the ultimate half-hour of regulation.
In extra time, Clay Holstad started the scoring sequence with a dribble to the correct nook and an airborne cross in entrance of the online. Bjorgolfsson couldn’t corral the preliminary go, however the unmarked Enzo Mauriz was there to comply with it up on the far submit.
Mauriz despatched the ball again towards the center on the bottom from six yards out, the place Bjorgolfsson’s outstretched proper leg poked the ball over the top of goalkeeper Neil Strauber.
Bjorgolfsson was named the event’s Offensive Most Beneficial Participant, joined on the All-Match Staff by Meinzer, Jan Hoffelner and Grassow, the Defensive MVP.
Kentucky earns an automated bid to the NCAA Championship, the place it’s scheduled to make its twelfth all-time look within the 48-team area. The official bracket can be unveiled beginning Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED 5:30 P.M. SUNDAY, NOV. 14, 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WTVQ/Information Launch) – No. 4 seed UK Wildcats took an exciting 2-1 victory over No. 6 seed Florida Atlantic College males’s soccer crew (9-7-3, 2-4-2 in Convention USA) to win the C-USA soccer crown Sunday.
On the finish of regulation, the rating was tangled up at 1-1, however UK delivered the golden purpose on the 94th minute of extra time to say the title.
First Half
FAU led UK in pictures, 2-1, within the first 12 minutes of play. On the sixteenth minute, Jose Alastuey obtained a protracted ball from the opposite approach and took the ball down simply outdoors the 18. Alastuey discovered Pontus Steffensen on the left facet, who beat his defender to cross to Mykhailenko. As soon as once more, Mykhailenko was on the proper place on the proper time, delivering a sliding shot that discovered the again of the online. FAU took an early 1-0 lead. Either side held one another off, as no pictures have been taken for over 20 minutes. On the thirty sixth minute, UK discovered a great search for the equalizer, however Chadi Mayati acquired his knee on the ball to knock it out for the defensive save. FAU went into the intermission with the 1-0 lead, as either side have been tied with three pictures, apiece.
Second Half
To open up the second half, UK had one other nice take a look at the equalizing purpose, however Neil Strauber got here in with a leaping save to cease the Wildcats’ assault. An Owl mistake in UK’s penalty field led to a penalty kick strive for Marcel Meinzer who transformed to tie the sport on the sixtieth minute. UK continued to regulate possession all through the second half, however FAU’s protection continued to hold round robust. On the eightieth minute, Strauber delivered one other nice save to maintain the rating at bay, 1-1. On the finish of regulation, UK had the sting in pictures, 12-4.
Additional time
The Owls took their first nook kick of the sport on the 92nd minute, as FAU appeared to choose issues up offensively. Coello Camarero then delivered the primary shot in extra time, nevertheless it got here out simply left off course on the 93rd minute. On UK’s subsequent possession, the Wildcats’ Eythor Bjorgolfsson delivered the golden purpose on the 94th minute.
Jan Hoffelner acquired the win in purpose for the Wildcats.
UK, which till it suffered it’s solely loss two weeks in the past was considered one of solely three unbeaten groups within the nation and ranked fifth, will know its NCAA Match destiny Monday afternoon following the 1 .m. NCAA bracket present.
