LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s soccer team scored in the 22nd minute of the game and then used its talented defense to produce a clean sheet, earning a 3-0 victory over West Virginia on Wednesday, and advance to the championship game of the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 22’ Casper Greening put the Wildcats up early with a quick strike at the 22-minute mark. The midfielder weaved through the Mountaineers back line and shot the ball just beyond the reach of the WVU keeper. 
 
81’ Eythor Bjorgolfsson added an insurance goal for the Wildcats with less than 10 minutes to play. The forward took a pass from Nick Gutmann, dodged the Mountaineers defender, and slipped through the pocket to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. 
 
83’ Enzo Mauriz continued the Kentucky momentum with a strike two minutes following its previous tally. Gutmann found Mauriz darting ahead directly in front of the box, and with a spin move, Mauriz kicked the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. 
 
FIRST HALF
Kentucky (13-0-5) took control of the game in the first half, outshooting West Virginia 7-2, including a 2-0 edge in shots on goal. Kentucky’s first shot on goal was a successful one as Casper Grening found the back of the next off his left foot in the 22nd minute. It was a misplay by WVU in the Kentucky end that led to Grening scoring his ninth goal of the season. 
 
SECOND HALF 
In the second half, both teams came out aggressive with good scoring chances in the first few minutes of the half. After back-and-forth possession, it appeared WVU had tied the game in the 65th minute with a goal that sneaked across the line after a UK misplay. However, the assistant referee called offsides, erasing the goal and keeping the game in UK’s favor. 
 
Kentucky turned up the pressure with a great scoring chance in the 78th minute, getting a great look from Ben Damage that was saved by WVU’s Jackson Lee. The rebound was also sent it but deflected. Even though UK didn’t score in that chance, it swung the momentum further in UK’s favor and led minutes later to a successful scoring chance by Eythor Bjorgolfsson. The senior got behind the defense and finished with his right foot past Lee. It was his 10th goal of the season. 
 
UK iced the game completely just two minutes after that in the 83rd minute as Enzo Mauriz finished with his right foot. The assist was from Nick Gutmann, his second of the game
 
 
UP NEXT 
 The Wildcats will host the championship game Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at the Bell Soccer Complex vs. James Madison, which defeated Georgia State in the other semifinal, 5-0. 
 
Kentucky and JMU met once earlier this season with the Wildcats earning at 3-1 victory in Harrisonburg, Virginia. UK got goals in the game from Damage, Lucca Rodrigues and Martin Soereide. JMU got a goal from Clay Obara. UK outshot JMU 2-8, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
 
Tickets for the game are on sale now online. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth (non-student ages 3-18) and $5 for senior citizens (65+). Children 2 and under will be admitted free of charge as will all Sun Belt Conference students who show a valid university issued ID. All tickets will be mobile. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to arriving at the event. Gates to the Bell Soccer Complex will open at Noon ET on Wednesday.