Callum Irving Named C-USA Defensive Soccer Player of the Week
Sept. 15, 2014
By Jacob Most
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky soccer goalie Callum Irving picked up a pair of weekly honors on Monday after blanking both his opponents in two wins last week, including an upset of then-No. 1 Notre Dame.
The UK captain was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week and also earned a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Irving kept a clean sheet in both matches he played last week. The Vancouver, B.C., native made a season-high seven saves to spearhead UK’s upset win of the defending National Champion Notre Dame in South Bend on Monday.
Irving also started the match-winning goal vs Notre Dame, which came with 26 seconds remaining in regulation. After shepherding the UK back line through a free-kick and two corners all within the last five minutes, Irving played a goal kick 70 yards to freshman forward Stefan Stojkovic, who found fellow-Swede and freshman Hampus Agerstrom at the corner of the box.
Agerstrom then played it back to Stojkovic, who fired into the goal at the far post from 15 yards out. Irving’s seven saves vs. Notre Dame were highlighted by two truly spectacular stops, which can be seen in the linked video.
Irving’s shutout vs. ETSU was the 10th of his career moving him into sixth place alone in the UK all-time record book. Irving has three shutouts this year, with all of them having come in the last four outings. He has allowed a total of two goals in five matches this year.
Irving has played every minute of every game this year, and he has a 0.41 goals against average in 2014.
“In a game like this you know there are going to be a lot of chances especially against a team like Notre Dame that is great attacking,” Irving said after the win at Notre Dame. “I’m happy I got to play a part, but really just the team played with a lot of heart from the first minute to the end. I have to give a lot of credit to the defense, especially the back-4 and the two guys in front of them too.”
Irving will be back in net on Tuesday as UK hosts Xavier at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex for a 7 p.m. ET kick. Neil Price will have the call on SEC Network+.
