Cats Post Seventh Clean Sheet in 4-0 Rout of South Carolina

Evans scores twice, Bjorgolfsson, Innes net one apiece

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a full week without competition, No. 16 Kentucky proved to be firing on all cylinders in its return to the pitch with a 4-0 rout of South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.

The Wildcats’ seventh shutout propels them to 9-2-3 on the season with a 3-1-1 mark in Conference USA. The Gamecocks fall to 5-8-2 (1-5 C-USA).

UK freshman Eythor Bjorgolfsson scored the only goal of the first half in the 19^th minute, adding to the first two of his career netted in the Cats’ 2-1 double-overtime win at Old Dominion on Oct. 19. Redshirt freshman John Michael Bandy sparked the play with a free kick, recording his third assist of the season.

Ten minutes into the second half, sophomore Daniel Evans padded the Kentucky lead thanks to a perfectly placed pass from Kalil ElMedkhar inside the box. The goal was Evans’ fifth, while ElMedkhar notched his fifth assist.

In the 72^nd minute, redshirt freshman Colin Innes became the 12^th different UK player to record a goal this season with the first of his career. ElMedkhar began the play with a through ball to Elijah Borneo, who opted to bypass a shot attempt of his own to find a wide-open Innes just inside the box.

Evans put away the Gamecocks for good with an easy breakaway goal set up by a pass from Clay Holstad and a collision between South Carolina goalkeeper Nick Brady and defender Frano Buhovac. Evans’ team-best sixth goal of the season places him among the ranks of Bjorgolfsson and Aimé Mabika as the only Cats to record a brace in their 2019 campaigns.

Kentucky will polish off nonconference play on Wednesday at The Bell, taking on Wright State (7-5-2, 3-3 Horizon League) at 7 p.m. ET.