COLUMBIA, Ky.- The No. 2-ranked Lindsey Wilson (8-1-1, MSC 2-1) men's soccer team heads to Cumberlands (Ky.) (5-3-4, MSC 2-0) to face the No.8-ranked Patriots on the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex at 6 p.m. CT Thursday. 

The Blue Raiders are coming off their first loss of the season to No.14-ranked Cumberland (Tenn.) in a 3-2 decision. LWU's offensive general, Dominic Ayella, leads the team with six goals and four assists but will not be available in the Top-10 matchup due to a red card that was received in the 90th minute of the Blue Raider loss. Michael Rempel leads in the assists category with six, while also contributing three goals. Defender Mao Wong will also be unavailable, as a consequence of two yellow cards in the Cumberland match as well. 

On the season, Lindsey Wilson has outshot opponents 221 to 73, scoring 28 goals while allowing just seven. Francois Djiba (7-1-1, MSC 2-1) protects the net for LWU with 35 saves, allowing only six of the seven goals previously mentioned. 

The Cumberlands are entering Thursday's match on a 0-0 tie against (RV) Union Commonwealth (Ky.). Samuel Dolobaipu and Bruno Marques represent the Patriots offense with five goals apiece, while Hugo Champalloux heads the assist column with four. Javiero Izquierdo Cuervo has spent the most time in the net with 888 minutes, allowing nine goals while tallying 27 saves. 

UC has outscored its opponents 20 to 11, averaging 1.67 goals per game. While holding opponents to just 47 shots on goal, the Patriots have produced a 0.459 shots on goal percentage, with 67 of their 146 shots being considered on goal. 

This will be the 30th all-time meeting between the two programs. Lindsey Wilson has dropped the last two matches, losing 4-2 on penalty kicks on November 4 in the 2024 Mid-South Conference Tournament finale and 2-1 in the 2024 NAIA Round of 16 on December 2. 

Men's soccer will lace up their cleats at 6 p.m. CT on the field of the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex to face the Patriots.