Kentucky men’s soccer (1-0) kicked off the 2024 season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Oral Roberts (0-1) on Thursday evening at The Bell Soccer Complex. Goals from Isaiah Chisolm, Logan Dorsey, and Oliver Stavdal powered the Wildcats to victory in their season opener.
Following the Kentucky women’s soccer team’s 2-0 victory over Detroit Mercy, the men took to the pitch to conclude the evening’s doubleheader. The Wildcats wasted no time making an impact, as sophomore Isaiah Chisolm, hailing from Yorktown, Va., launched a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net in the 11th minute, giving Kentucky an early 1-0 lead. Chisolm was assisted by fellow sophomore Josh Gordon.
Oral Roberts responded quickly, leveling the match at 1-1 just 11 minutes later when Omar Mora found the bottom right corner with a left-footed strike, assisted by Jose Estrada. The remainder of the first half saw both teams locked in a stalemate, heading into the break with the score tied.
The Wildcats regained the lead late in the second half when senior forward Logan Dorsey found the back of the net in the 76th minute. After a save by the ORU keeper, sophomore Joel Gonzalez connected with Dorsey, who rolled the ball in to put Kentucky ahead 2-1. However, the celebration was short-lived as Mora scored his second goal of the night just two minutes later, assisted by Luis Flores, bringing the score to 2-2. The ORU keeper was shown a red card during the aftermath of Kentucky’s second goal.
With time running out, Kentucky needed a decisive play to secure the win. Freshman Oliver Stavdal delivered in the clutch, netting the game-winning goal in the closing moments of the match. Stavdal’s right-footed shot from the top of the box sailed into the upper left corner, earning the Wildcats a dramatic 3-2 victory. The goal was set up by a “hockey assist” from Gordon and fellow freshman Bertil Alban.
Kentucky will return to The Bell on September 2 to host Virginia Tech, aiming to build on their early-season success. The match will raise awareness for pediatric cancer in partnership with All In For Miller, Ronald McDonald House, and UK Children’s Hospital.
