Oct. 31, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's soccer team picked up a huge Conference USA road victory Wednesday, knocking off Kentucky, 1-0, at the UK Soccer Complex. Omar Vallejo scored the game-winning goal in the 40th minute and Sebastian Evers recorded nine saves in the victory.
The UCF (7-6-3, 4-3-0 C-USA) victory snapped a four-game winning streak for the Wildcats (9-7-1, 4-2-1), who have the 14th-best RPI in the country and are receiving votes in both national polls. The contest was played in adverse conditions with the temperature in the 30s and heavy rain falling throughout the match.
After he was taken down just outside the box near the end of the first half, Vallejo stepped up and scored on the ensuing free kick to record the lone goal of the night.
"This is a great team win," UCF head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "This was another tough test on the road and the conditions were very bad. I am proud of our players. We came out in the first half and took advantage of our opportunities, and then dug deep to hold off Kentucky in the second half. This win keeps us in the mix and keeps us fighting as the regular-season comes to a close."
UCF was playing its second-to-last regular-season contest.
Vallejo's goal was his third of the season and his third in the last three games.
The shutout was the fifth of the year for Evers and the Knights. The Wildcats recorded 23 shots for the game, with 14 coming in the second half, and Evers had six saves after the break.
"Evers was tremendous. He took control," Cunningham said. "He was connected to the game. He really bailed us out a few times."
The Knights will close the regular season Saturday evening at Marshall. The C-USA Championship, which will feature the top-six teams in the league standings, begins Nov. 7 in Birmingham, Ala.