LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University begins its 19th season of soccer on Thursday night visiting in-state foe Kentucky at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex under the lights at 7:30 p.m.
 
Fans looking to catch the Colonels and Wildcats season opener can purchase tickets starting at $8 on Ticketmaster. Fans not able to be in attendance can find the match streamed live on SEC Network+.
 
Thursday's season opener up I-75 marks EKU's 11th meeting against Kentucky in program history and the program's fifth season opener against a power-5 opponent. The Colonels are seeking their first win over UK since the 2018 season.
 
Match 1: EKU (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ASUN) at Kentucky (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SEC)
-  Thursday, August 17, 2023 – 7:30 p.m.
-  Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex – Lexington, Ky.
-  SEC Network+
 
EKU Soccer
-  Head Coach Matt Cosinuke enters his fifth season at the helm of the program on Thursday night, he's compiled a 26-34-5 record in the maroon and white.
-  EKU has won nine games in each of its last two seasons for the second time in program history.
-  The Colonels are coming off their second consecutive appearance in the ASUN Conference Championship semifinals, becoming the second team in ASUN history, first team since 1999, to advance in the tournament in the first two seasons as a member institution in the league.
-  EKU anticipates junior midfielder Nerea de Diego's return coming off an injury suffered last season against the Wildcats, she was tabbed to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team this offseason, EKU's first selection as a member in the conference.
-  EKU returns 23 members off last year's squad, including a 10-member senior class in Allison Vaughn, Carly Dean, Kaitlyn Andrews, Kara Haas, Katie Wall, Kylie Fitzgerald, Lydia Jervier, Mackenzie Burdick, Maia Ransom and Melanie McKeown.
-  Fitzgerald enters the 2023 campaign as EKU's returning leading scorer with two goals last season against Wright State and Central Arkansas. In three seasons with EKU, she's recorded four goals and connected 54 percent of her shots on target.
-  EKU also returns junior forward Gretta Gunn who had a team leading four assists last season, bumping her career total to eight which sits second in program history.
-  The Colonels welcomed 10 newcomers to the family this offseason consisting of seven freshmen and three transfers.
 
All-time vs. Kentucky
-  Thursday's match is the 11th meeting between the regional rivals, EKU is 1-9 against its in-state foe.
-  Kentucky claimed the last meeting in the series last year in Lexington by a 4-0 result.

For the latest on EKU Soccer, follow the Colonels on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and on the web at EKUsports.com.