LEXINGTON ? The Kentucky soccer program?s recruiting class for the 2005 season has been named as one of 12 in the country that will make an immediate impact by CollegeSoccerNews.com.

The eight-member class, which includes one forward, five midfielders and a pair of defenders, is headlined by NSCAA All-Region members Patrick Conyea of Hickory, Ky., and Tim Walters of St. Louis, Mo., as well as Jess Mitchell and Bingy Lara, who each completed in the Olympic Development Program.

The group will join a returning core of players led by first-team all-conference selections Andy Gruenebaum, Thomas Senecal and Brandon Stewart. A year ago, Kentucky went 11-5-3 and won the Mid-American Conference for the fourth time in five years.

For the 2005 season, Kentucky makes the jump to Conference USA, which features eight teams that were nationally ranked at some point in 2004. The Southeastern Conference does not sponsor a championship in men?s soccer since only three league schools have the sport. The SEC requires for teams to hold a championship.