Kentucky Men’s Soccer Opens 2022 Campaign

Wildcats host UIC in double-header with Kentucky Women’s Soccer

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s soccer program begins a new era as a Sun Belt Conference affiliate on Thursday.

The Wildcats will host the University of Illinois Chicago in a 7:30 p.m. ET non-conference contest at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.

Seeing much excitement in the preseason, Kentucky has swept numerous conference awards including a third-place preseason conference ranking by the Sun Belt. Senior Eythor Bjorgolfsson was awarded conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while fellow senior Luis Grassow earned conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The pair, with the addition of Robert Screen, found themselves on the Preseason All-Conference Team as well.

Kentucky’s preseason accolades did not stop on the conference level as the Wildcats were voted to finish eighth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Coaches’ Poll. UK finished its 2021 campaign ranked No. 11 by the organization.

The final stint as a Conference USA affiliate resulted in a conference tournament title for Kentucky, the first since 2018. The Wildcats completed the season with an overall record of 15-2-4 (3-1-4 C-USA).