The University of Kentucky men?s soccer program finished with the No. 22 ranking in the final NSCAA/adidas poll. The Wildcats, who posted a solid 12-7-2 record against stiff competition, were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in double-overtime by the eventual NCAA Champion Indiana Hoosiers, 2-1. The ranking is Kentucky?s third top-25 final finish in four seasons.
?I?m glad for our players and for our program that we are starting to achieve a level of consistency amongst the nation?s elite,? head coach Ian Collins said. ?Our players worked really hard this season and we were disappointed in the way it ended. However, we are making strides toward our goal of winning the national championship.?
This season the Wildcats put together one of the most impressive defensive efforts in school history. UK finished the season with the ninth best team goals against average in the country at 0.68 and sophomore goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was 17th individually in the same category. The Mid-American Conference regular season champions posted an unblemished 6-0-0 record in conference play and became the first team in MAC history to complete the regular season without relinquishing a goal.
Gruenebaum was consistently one of the nation?s best goalkeepers and his work between the posts helped lead UK to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons. The Overland Park, Kan., native posted 10 shutouts, including six in MAC regular season play and recorded a 0.68 goals against average, the second-lowest season total in UK history. Kentucky opponents managed only 15 goals on the season, which ties a school record for fewest goals allowed, with Gruenebaum manning the net the entire season.
?Our program has been known for producing teams that defend very well,? Collins said. ?This year our defensive effort was supreme. Our players bought into our defensive system and made it work extremely well.?
Junior midfielder Jamal Shteiwi provided UK?s most consistent offensive threat as he led the Wildcats in scoring for the second consecutive season with 23 points. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native recorded a school record 13 assists, which ties him for the fifth-most in the country and his 0.62 assists per game average ranks 11th in the nation. Shteiwi was named MAC Player of the Year and made the NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes region second-team.
Kentucky also placed seven players on the All-MAC first and second teams, including Gruenebaum and Shteiwi, and freshman Riley O?Neill was named MAC Newcomer of the Year after leading the Cats in goals with seven.
