Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer

The Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the University of Kentucky (UK).

Kentucky Wildcats
men's soccer
2022 Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team
Founded1991
UniversityUniversity of Kentucky
Athletic directorMitch Barnhart
Head coachJohan Cedergren (11th season)
ConferenceSun Belt
LocationLexington, Kentucky
StadiumWendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex
(Capacity: 3,368)
NicknameWildcats
ColorsBlue and white[1]
   
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
2018
NCAA Tournament Round of 16
2000, 2018, 2020, 2022
NCAA Tournament appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
MAC: 1999, 2000, 2001
C-USA: 2018, 2021
SBC: 2022
Conference Regular Season championships
MAC: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
C-USA: 2015, 2018
SBC: 2022

Since the Southeastern Conference (SEC) does not sponsor men's soccer (minimum four schools needed to sponsor a sport, only two offer it), the team has been associate members of other conferences. From 1995 to 2004, it was a member of the Mid-American Conference.[2] In 2005, UK moved men's soccer to Conference USA, creating a rivalry with fellow new member South Carolina, which had rejoined the reunified conference that season. Both UK and South Carolina remained in C-USA men's soccer through the 2021 season, after which both programs left for the newly reinstated men's soccer league of the Sun Belt Conference.[3]

In 2018, Kentucky went 17–1–1 with wins against #6 Louisville and #2 Indiana, both by a score of 3–0 at home. They finished 7–1 overall in conference play with their only lose coming on the road at FIU 2–3. The Wildcats won the C-USA Regular Season and Tournament Titles. They were the #3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, their highest until 2022.[4]

In 2022, Kentucky finished the regular season at 14-0-5 with wins against #10 Louisville and #21 Lipscomb at home, both by scores of 3-2. They also tied against #20 Tulsa in Tulsa 1-1 and #7 Marshall in Lexington 1-1. All four of these games in a two week span from September 6th to September 20th. They finished 5-0-3 and Sun Belt Regular Season and Tournament Champions. They were awarded the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the first time in school history.

The school has two major rivalries, one traditional and one unique since they are an all-sports in-conference competition, but in this sport is a rivalry because of its nature.

  • Governor's Cup: Against in-state rival Louisville, the traditional all-sports rivalry between Louisville (ACC) and Kentucky (SBC).
  • SEC Derby: While UK and South Carolina are not regarded as major SEC rivals in other sports, the two schools are the only SEC members that sponsor varsity men's soccer teams. UK left the Mid-American Conference after the 2004 season when South Carolina rejoined the reunified Conference USA, in which it had last been a member in 1994 (when it was the Metro). The two schools moved men's soccer together to the Sun Belt Conference for 2022. Both schools have referred to the rivalry as the Southeastern Conference Men's Championship.

Notable former players

References
  1. "Primary Color Palette". University of Kentucky Athletics Brand Identity Guidelines (PDF). February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  2. "Annual Standings" (PDF). 2012 MAC Men's Soccer Record Book. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  3. "Sun Belt Conference Announces Return of Men's Soccer This Fall" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  4. "#13/12 Kentucky to Conclude Regular Season at South Carolina". 2 November 2016.
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