# 2018 Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team

The 2018 Kentucky Wildcats men's soccer team represented the University of Kentucky during the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 28th season of the university fielding a men's varsity soccer program, and their 14th season playing in Conference USA as an associate member since their main conference, the Southeastern Conference does not sponsor men's varsity soccer.
The 2018 season proved to be the program's most successful season ever. Kentucky finished the regular season ranked third in the United Soccer Coaches men's soccer poll, as well as the Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament and regular season champions. The program made their deepest run in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight before being eliminated by Maryland.

## Background

During the 2017 season, Kentucky finished with an 8–6–4 overall record and a 4–2–2 record in Conference USA matches. An early season surge had the Wildcats ranked as high as 13th in the nation. A dip in form saw the Wildcats fall out of the rankings and eventually out of the NCAA Tournament picture. Kentucky were seeded third in the 2017 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament, where they were upset by Marshall, 0–1, in the quarterfinals. They did not receive an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.

## Squad
### Roster

Updated November 13, 2018
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Jack Hudson |
| 3 | DF | IND | Keyarash Namjoupanah |
| 4 | MF | USA | Sam Stockton |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Leon Jones |
| 6 | DF | COD | Aimé Mabika |
| 7 | FW | USA | J. J. Williams |
| 8 | MF | GER | Marcel Meinzer |
| 9 | FW | CRC | Jason Reyes |
| 10 | MF | NOR | Nicolai Fremstad |
| 12 | GK | USA | Jackson Hawthorne |
| 14 | FW | USA | Daniel Evans |
| 15 | DF | CAN | Brock Lindow |
| 16 | MF | USA | Robert Screen |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | USA | Elijah Borneo |
| 18 | MF | USA | Bailey Rouse |
| 20 | DF | USA | John Michael Bandy |
| 21 | DF | UAE | Kalil El-Medkhar |
| 22 | DF | USA | Tanner Hummel |
| 23 | MF | USA | Cole Guindon |
| 24 | GK | HON | Enrique Facusse |
| 25 | FW | USA | Clay Holstad |
| 26 | DF | USA | Nicholas Blassou |
| 27 | DF | USA | Luis Hernandez |
| 28 | MF | USA | Colin Innes |
| 29 | DF | USA | Matt Mazur |
| 30 | MF | USA | Ian Farquhar |

### Team management

| Position | Staff |
| Head coach | Johan Cedergren |
| Assistant coach | Chase Wileman |
| Assistant coach | Josh Oldroyd |
| Athletic trainer | Taylor Eavenson |
| Director of Operations | Marcus Aldaba |
Source:

## Schedule

Source:
| Date Time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (Attendance) City, State |
| Regular season ||||||
| August 24* 7:30 pm, SECN+ | | DePaul | W 1–0 | 1–0–0 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,559) Lexington, KY |
| August 31* 7:35 pm, SECN+ | | Columbia | W 1–0 | 2–0–0 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,252) Lexington, KY |
| September 4* 7:35 pm, SECN+ | | No. 6 Louisville Rivalry | W 3–0 | 3–0–0 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,827) Lexington, KY |
| September 8 7:00 pm | | at UAB | W 2–0 | 4–0–0 (1–0–0) | BBVA Compass Field (902) Birmingham, AL |
| September 11* 7:05 pm | No. 6 | at Xavier | T 0–0 $^{2OT}$ | 4–0–1 | XU Soccer Complex (640) Cincinnati, OH |
| September 18* 7:00 pm | No. 7 | at Lipscomb | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 5–0–1 | Lipscomb Soccer Complex (394) Nashville, TN |
| September 21 7:05 pm, SECN+ | No. 7 | No. 18 Charlotte | W 1–0 | 6–0–1 (2–0–0) | Bell Soccer Complex (1,572) Lexington, KY |
| September 26* 7:35 pm, SECN+ | No. 7 | East Tennessee State | W 3–0 | 7–0–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (900) Lexington, KY |
| September 29 7:00 pm | No. 7 | at South Carolina SEC Derby | W 2–1 | 8–0–1 (3–0–0) | Stone Stadium (1,557) Columbia, SC |
| October 3* 7:05 pm, WatchESPN | No. 4 | No. 2 Indiana Rivalry | W 3–0 | 9–0–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (3,503) Lexington, KY |
| October 7 7:00 pm, CUSA.tv | No. 4 | at FIU | L 2–3 | 9–1–1 (3–1–0) | FIU Soccer Stadium (435) Miami, FL |
| October 13 7:05 pm, SECN+ | No. 4 | Marshall | W 1–0 $^{2OT}$ | 10–1–1 (4–1–0) | Bell Soccer Complex (1,470) Lexington, KY |
| October 16* 7:05 pm, BTN+ | No. 3 | at Ohio State | W 3–0 | 11–1–1 | Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium (487) Columbus, OH |
| October 21 1:05 pm, SECN+ | No. 3 | New Mexico | W 6–1 | 12–1–1 (5–1–0) | Bell Soccer Complex (1,088) Lexington, KY |
| October 24* 7:05 pm, SECN+ | No. 3 | Evansville | W 4–0 | 13–1–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,016) Lexington, KY |
| October 28 1:00 pm, CUSA.tv | No. 3 | at Florida Atlantic | W 2–1 | 14–1–1 (6–1–0) | FAU Soccer Stadium (265) Boca Raton, FL |
| November 2 7:05 pm | No. 3 | No. 24 Old Dominion Senior Night | W 3–0 | 15–1–1 (7–1–0) | Bell Soccer Complex (1,813) Lexington, KY |
| Conference USA Tournament ||||||
| November 9 4:30 pm, ESPN3 | (1) No. 3 | vs. (5) Marshall Semifinals | W 2–1 | 16–1–1 | Transamerica Field Charlotte, NC |
| November 11 1:00 pm, ESPN3 | (1) No. 3 | at (3) No. 14 Charlotte Championship | W 1–0 | 17–1–1 | Transamerica Field (1,008) Charlotte, NC |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| November 18 4:00 pm, SECN+ | (3) No. 3 | No. 21 Portland Second Round | W 4–0 | 18–1–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,831) Lexington, KY |
| November 24 7:05 pm, SECN+ | (3) No. 3 | Lipscomb Third Round | W 2–1 | 19–1–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (1,939) Lexington, KY |
| November 30 7:00 pm, SECN+ | (3) No. 3 | (11) No. 15 Maryland Quarterfinals | L 0–1 | 19–2–1 | Bell Soccer Complex (3,228) Lexington, KY |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from United Soccer Coaches. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||