The University of Kentucky’s Illka Jantti was named to the National Soccer CoachesAssociation of America All-Great Lakes Region first team, the organization announcedMonday, Dec. 11.

As the only University of Kentucky representative on the team, the junior from Lahti,Finland, made his third consecutive appearance on an All-Region team, steadilyprogressing from a third-team All-Mideast Region selection as a freshmen to asecond-team choice as a sophomore.

“This is a great honor for a great player,” Coach Ian Collins said. “Ilkka has been oneof the keys to our success for the past three seasons. He is as wonderful a young man offthe field as he is a player on the field. This is a very deserved award.”

From his defensive position in 2000, Jantti tied for second on the team in points with eight,including three goals. He scored the game-winning goal against IUPUI, and contributedgoals in losses to UC-Santa Barbara and eventual mens College Cup Final Fourparticipant Southern Methodist. One of his two assists came on the Cats first goal of theseason, while his second came on the game-winning goal against Mid-AmericanConference rival Buffalo.

Earlier this season, Jantti also was named first team All-MAC and was selected toboth the Southeastern Conference and MAC Academic Honor Rolls.