LEXINGTON ? Senior Riley O?Neill and junior Michael D?Agostino, who led Kentucky to its highest ranking in school history at No. 13, have been named first-team All-Midwest Region, it was announced Thursday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
O?Neill was a one-man scoring machine for Kentucky, setting the school-record with 17 goals, including an astounding seven game winners, also a school record. He totaled 38 points to shatter the school record. All three marks easily led Conference USA.
O’Neill registered five multi-goal games, including a hat trick in the season opener against Florida Atlantic. The hat trick won O’Neill one of his three C-USA Offensive Player of the Week awards, the other two coming after he scored dramatic double overtime goals in wins over No. 6 South Carolina and Florida International.
For his career, O’Neill was one of the most prolific players in UK history. Despite battling injuries throughout his sophomore and junior seasons, he leaves UK as the all-time leader in shots and game-winning goals while ranking in the top three in goals, assists and points.
As a freshman before UK moved to Conference USA, O’Neill racked up Mid-American Conference Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-conference honors.
D?Agostino was one of only four C-USA players to register at least six goals and six assists on the year after coming alive down the stretch. In Kentucky?s final nine games, he totaled four goals and four assists and had either a goal or assist in seven. He wound up second on the team in goals behind O?Neill.
Both O?Neill and D?Agostino were also named first-team All-Conference USA after leading Kentucky to a second place finish in the rugged conference and a 14-5-2 overall record. The 14 wins are tied for second best in school history with only the 16-win 1995 campaign surpassing it. For D’Agostino, it was his third straight all-conference award.
By placing two athletes on the team, Kentucky extended its streak of having an all-region performer to 14 years. Dating back to 1993, the Wildcats have had at least one member on an all-region team each year while placing two 10 different times. In all, 24 UK players have earned the honor.
