LEXINGTON ? In the 2006 final Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) released by the NCAA, the Kentucky men?s soccer team came in 30th position.
For the season, UK posted a stellar 14-5-2 overall record and finished second in Conference USA, only one point behind SMU, the nation?s top-ranked team at the end of the regular season. The Wildcats also reached the finals of the C-USA Tournament before falling to the Mustangs.
The 14 wins are tied for second best in school history and the team had the best home record in school history at 9-1, including an thrilling upset of sixth-ranked South Carolina. The record produced the 16th-best win-loss percentage (.714) in the nation.
Kentucky placed six players on the All-Conference USA teams, led by forward Riley O?Neill and midfielder Michael D?Agostino who each earned first-team honors. Defender Nathan Marks was named to the second team while goalkeeper Dan Williams and midfielder Masumi Turnbull were named to the third team. Williams and defender Barry Rice were each named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Turnbull, Rice and defender Matt Weiler were named to the All-Tournament Team after UK?s runner-up finish.
The only senior in the group, O?Neill, set school records with 17 goals, 37 points and seven game-winning goals. He finished seventh in the nation in goals and eighth in points and has been invited to the MLS Combine this January.
Behind O’Neill, Kentucky had the nation’s 11th most prolific offense, averaging 2.1 goals per game. Meanwhile, the defense ranked 23rd nationally in goals-against average (0.78) and 32nd shutout percentage (0.43). Goalkeeper Dan Williams ranked 40th in the country with a 0.84 GAA.
Kentucky was the second highest rated team to not earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament, behind only Ohio State, which finished 28th. It is, however, possible UK was ahead of Ohio State in the ratings prior to the tournament as the Buckeyes? opponents in the tournament fared better than Kentucky?s.
On the flip side, seven teams below the Wildcats in the RPI earned at large berths to the big dance. Each of the seven ? George Mason (31), UConn (35), UAB (36) Providence (37), Virginia Tech (38), San Diego State (43) and Cincinnati (47) ? were eliminated in the first round by a combined score of 13-4.
