Nov. 20, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky men’s soccer seniors Steven Perinovic and Tyler Riggs have been selected to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, it was announced by the league office.
Perinovic, a senior center back out of Delafield, Wis., and Riggs, a senior forward from Louisville, Ky., were each voted to the 11-man team, honoring the top academic and athletic performers in the loop.
A two-time All-Conference USA selection, including a second-team honor in 2013, Perinovic owns a 3.51 cumulative GPA as a finance/pre-medicine major. A preseason All-America selection after a first-team All-Conference USA season in 2012, Perinovic started all 20 games for a youthful backline, teaming with three freshmen to help UK to a 1.20 goals-against average. Perinovic finished 2013 winning 150-of-197 contested-header attempts (76 percent). Perinovic netted one goal in 2013 and finished his career with 79 games played and 73 starts. He finished his career ranked fifth in games played and sixth in starts.
Riggs, a product of Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, owns a 3.93 GPA as a mechanical engineering major. As a senior in 2013, Riggs capped off one of the most decorated careers in program history, becoming the first player to lead the club in scoring in four consecutive seasons. Riggs, a two-time Academic All-American and a three-time Academic All-District honoree, had six goals and one assist in 2013 and finished with the second-most goals (29) in program history, owning 10 assists and 68 points. He finished his career ranked fifth in points, sixth in shots and sixth in game-winning goals.
Kentucky finished its 2013 season with the first back-to-back trips to the C-USA Tournament Semifinals in school history, falling to host and eventual champion Charlotte, 1-0. UK had earlier posted a 1-0 overtime win over No. 27 Old Dominion, the No. 2 seed, in the C-USA Quarterfinals, its second win over the Monarchs in 2013.
2013 Conference USA Men’s Soccer All-Academic Team
Tyler Gibson / Charlotte / Senior / 3.82 GPA / Marketing
Aidan Kirkbride / Charlotte / Senior / 3.78 GPA / Accounting
Steven Perinovic / Kentucky / RS Senior / 3.51 GPA / Finance, Pre-Medicine
Tyler Riggs*(2011) / Kentucky / Senior / 3.93 GPA / Mechanical Engineering
Zach Hunter*(2012) / Marshall / Senior / 3.73 GPA / Chemistry, Applied Math
Nick Miele / New Mexico / Junior / 3.73 GPA / University Studies
Kyle Venter / New Mexico / Senior / 3.45 GPA / Business Administration
Braeden Troyer*(2012) / South Carolina / Junior / 4.0 GPA / Mathematics, Risk Mgt. & Insurance
Stephen Anderson / South Carolina / RS Junior / 4.0 GPA / Psychology
Quinn Starker / Tulsa / Junior / 4.0 GPA / Mechanical Engineering
Ian Michalak / UAB / Junior / 3.94 GPA / Neuroscience
*repeat selection
