University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer Heads to Kentucky on Sunday
09.24.2009 | Men's Soccer
Asheville (3-4-1) captured its first in-season tournament in more than 20 years when the Bulldogs won the Lipscomb Hyatt Place Tournament in Nashville last weekend. Asheville knocked off both Lipscomb and Belmont by the score of 2-1 en route to the tournament championship. The Bulldogs won the tourney title on an overtime goal from Jakes Sides against Belmont.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lassi Hurskainen, sophomore midfielder Connor Holzinger, sophomore midfielder Jake Hagedorn and sophomore forward Jake Sides all earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
"Our lads have a little more spring in their step this week, and our training has been a little more focused, as well," commented Bulldog coach Steve Cornish. "We were quite pleased to win the tournament and did a great job battling and finding a way to win each day. I am hopeful that these results will give us a little confidence as we head toward Big South Conference play."
Asheville faces a very difficult task on Sunday against a nationally-ranked Kentucky squad. The Wildcats are 6-1-0 on the season with their only loss being a 1-0 decision to Marshall. The Bulldogs earned a point against Kentucky last year when the teams played to a 0-0 tie.
"Kentucky is very good and extremely well-coached," declared Cornish. "We will have to be at our absolute best to get a result on Sunday. The lads must be ready to play well for 90 minutes."
Asheville has faced a tough schedule already this season with matches against North Carolina and Georgetown. The Tar Heels were ranked #1 when the Bulldogs faced them, while the Hoyas have been ranked recently.
"We have seen some tough competition in North Carolina and Georgetown and the other clubs have been tough, too," admitted Cornish. "Hopefully, the fact we've faced those teams we'll help us prepare for Kentucky."
NOTES - The Bulldogs have eight goals on the season as a team with seven different goal-scorers...Hurskainen made 25 saves in the two matches last weekend...the Bulldogs have played three straight 2-1 matches with two wins and a loss in the mix.
