UK men’s soccer had a historic 2022 season. Its 2023 schedule is full of rivalry games.
After a historic 2022 season that featured two conference championships and the first undefeated regular season in program history, the path has been announced for the Kentucky men’s soccer program in 2023.
The Wildcats’ schedule for this season was revealed Monday afternoon, and it’s full of rivalry matchups.
Among the standout items from Monday’s announcement was the annual in-state meeting between Kentucky and Louisville, which is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Louisville.
Additionally, the Cats will host perennial NCAA power Indiana at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex on the UK campus.
UK’s season opener will be against Florida Gulf Coast at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, in Lexington.
In total, the Wildcats will play at least 10 matches at the Bell Soccer Complex this season.
Kentucky’s 2023 schedule will feature seven non-conference matches and nine Sun Belt Conference games.
In addition to the Louisville and Indiana matchups, UK will also face high-major opposition in the form of road matches at Wisconsin (Sept. 1) and Ohio State (Sept. 19).
The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will begin Nov. 5.
Last season, UK won both the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles.
The Wildcats entered the NCAA Tournament as the only undefeated Division I men’s soccer team in the country, and earned the No. 1 seed in the 48-team tournament for the first time.
UK lost at home to Pittsburgh in the Sweet 16, falling one round short of the program’s best-ever NCAA Tournament showing (Elite Eight in 2018).
Last year’s NCAA Tournament marked Kentucky’s 12th overall appearance in the national postseason. Nine of these appearances have come under the direction of head coach Johan Cedergren, who has led the Wildcats since the 2012 season.
Among the expected returners for the Wildcats this season is sophomore goalkeeper Casper Mols, who was named a first-team All-American as a freshman last season.
2023 KENTUCKY MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
(Home games in all capital letters)
Aug. 13: x-SOUTHERN INDIANA, 3 p.m.
Aug. 19: x-At Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Aug. 24: FLORIDA GULF COAST, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: EAST TENNESSEE STATE, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: At Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Sept. 5: At Louisville, 8 p.m.
Sept. 8: LIPSCOMB, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: SOUTH CAROLINA, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19: At Ohio State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24: At Old Dominion, 6 p.m.
Sept. 29: CENTRAL FLORIDA, 5 p.m.
Oct. 3: INDIANA, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: At Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: JAMES MADISON, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18: GEORGIA STATE, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22: At Marshall, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: WEST VIRGINIA, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31: At Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.
x-Exhibition game.
Kentucky women’s soccer looking for first SEC win under new coach
The 2023 season will mark the second for head coach Troy Fabiano with the Kentucky women’s soccer program.
Last season, the Wildcats compiled a 7-9-2 (W-L-D) record, although that mark came without any wins in SEC play.
UK’s last win over an SEC opponent was a 2-0 result over Missouri in October 2021.
The UK women will play seven non-conference games and 10 SEC games during the 2023 season.
UK will open the season with a home match against Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Bell Soccer Complex.
This match will be the first regular season UK athletics home event of the 2023-24 academic year.
In June, Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced beer and seltzer drinks will now be sold at all UK athletics events. This would mean the Aug. 17 match between Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky would mark the first regular-season match during which alcohol is sold at the Bell Soccer Complex.
The only other in-state opponent for Kentucky this season will be a road match at Murray State at 5 p.m. Aug. 24.
The Wildcats will face a pair of high-major opponents during non-conference play: Illinois at home (Sept. 3) and Iowa State on the road (Sept. 10).
Last season in Lexington, UK defeated Iowa State, 4-0.
Among the 10 SEC matches that Kentucky will play this season, one that stands out is when Alabama comes to Lexington at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Alabama was a national semifinalist last season.
The 2023 SEC Soccer Tournament will be held, Oct. 29 through Nov. 5 in Pensacola, Florida.
2023 KENTUCKY WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
(Home games in all capital letters)
Aug. 5: x-NORTHERN KENTUCKY, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 12: x-MARSHALL, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17: EASTERN KENTUCKY, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: At Murray State, 5 p.m.
Aug. 27: VALPARAISO, 1 p.m.
Aug. 31: UT-MARTIN, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 3: ILLINOIS, 1 p.m.
Sept. 7: BELMONT, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10: At Iowa State, 2 p.m.
Sept. 15: At Texas A&M, 8 p.m.
Sept. 21: SOUTH CAROLINA, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: At Florida, 2 p.m.
Sept. 29: ALABAMA, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5: At Tennessee, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8: VANDERBILT, 3 p.m.
Oct. 15: MISSISSIPPI STATE, 3 p.m.
Oct. 19: At Georgia, 6 p.m.
Oct. 22: MISSOURI, 1 p.m.
Oct. 26: At Ole Miss, 7 p.m.
x-Exhibition game.
