BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Kentucky sophomore defender Barry Rice has been named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday.
Rice, a native of Parma, Ohio, has been a staple in the UK defense this season, serving as both the defensive and offensive leader of the Wildcat team. Rice, a physical and athletic defender, also became UK?s most potent offensive weapon, leading the Wildcats with goals (7) and points (15). Rice has scored six of his seven goals off headers and his other goal came off a free kick in UK?s 3-1 win over Marshall. Rice leads UK in nearly every category, including minutes played (1552), game started (17), and game winners (3), in addition to goals and points. The sophomore missed his first career game in UK?s loss to South Carolina on Saturday, having run up a streak of 38 consecutive starts. Rice, who last season was named to the 2006 C-USA All-Freshmen team, was also named to the C-USA first team as a defender.
Joining Rice in the C-USA post-season awards is UK?s leading assist man, Masumi Turnbull, Turnbull, a native of Richmond, British Columbia, was named to the second team as a midfielder. Turnbull leads UK with seven assists and ranks as the conference leader in C-USA game with six assists. Last season, Turnbull was name to the third team, in addition to C-USA All-Tournament Team honors. Turnbull played in all 21 UK games last season and missed only one game in 2007, a midweek non-conference game with Indiana. Turnbull has now totaled 14 career assists and ranks tied for fourth on the UK career list and tied for sixth with seven assists on UK?s single-season record books.
Senior forward Aaron Swanson earned third-team C-USA honors, after ranking second on the team with five goals. Swanson, who came to UK after spending over a year out of collegiate soccer, emerged as a legitimate offensive force, leading UK with 28 shots and 15 efforts on goal. Swanson opened the season strong with a two-goal performance in UK?s win over UNC-Asheville and followed that game with a goal in UK?s next contest with Louisville. Swanson added goals in back-to-back conference games late in the season, scoring in UK wins over Central Florida and Marshall.
Freshman C.J. Tappel earned All-Freshmen Team honors, emerging as a force in the midfield for the Wildcats. Tappel, a native of Lexington, Ky., has played in 16 of UK?s 18 games, earning eight starting assignments. Tappel has totaled a goal and an assist, with the assist coming on a beautiful cross-field lob to UK?s Tim Crone for the first Wildcat goal of the game in UK?s 2-1 upset of then No. 1 SMU. Tappel?s first career goal came in UK?s 2-1 win at Florida International, a header off a Turnbull free kick.
Last season, UK earned seven C-USA post-season honors, placing graduated European professional stars Riley O?Neill and Michael D?Agostino on the first team.
Kentucky (7-9-2, 5-3 C-USA) opens the C-USA Tournament on Wednesday with a 3:30 p.m. EDT matchup with Marshall at UAB?s West Campus Field.
2007 C-USA MEN?S SOCCER AWARDS Player of the Year Bruno Guarda, MF, SMU Defensive Player of the Year Barry Rice, D, Kentucky Freshman of the Year Jimmy Maurer, GK, South Carolina Newcomer of the Year Tyler Ruthven, D, South Carolina Coach of the Year Tom McIntosh, Tulsa All-Conference First Team F: Juan Guerra, Florida International F: Dejan Jakovic, UAB F: Jose Parada, Tulsa MF: Eric DeFreitas, Tulsa MF: Bruno Guarda, SMU MF: Jeff Scanella, South Carolina MF: Ben Shuleva, SMU D: Adrian Chevannes, SMU D: Chris Clements, Tulsa D: Barry Rice, Kentucky GK: Dominic Cervi, Tulsa All-Conference Second Team F: Jared Britcher, Memphis F: Ryan Roushandel, UCF F: Dane Saintus, SMU MF: Sterling Flounder, Marshall MF: Trey Gregory, UAB MF: Adam Montgomery, Memphis MF: Masumi Turnbull, Kentucky D: Michael Coburn, Memphis D: Jeff Lenix, Marshall D: Ryan Mirsky, SMU GK: Jimmy Maurer, South Carolina All-Conference Third Team F: Eric Burkholder, Tulsa F: Todd Goddard, Tulsa F: Aaron Swanson, Kentucky MF: Scott Corbin, SMU MF: John Daniele, Marshall MF: Sean Goulding, Memphis MF: Jeff Harwell, SMU D: Tyler Ruthven, South Carolina D: Raoul Voss, Florida International D: Mark Wiltse, South Carolina GK: Steve Sandbo, SMU All-Freshman Team Steven Cabas, F, Florida International C.J. Tappel, MF, Kentucky Sammy Boateng, MF, Marshall Ryan Ruble, MF, Memphis Chad Bauman, D, SMU Jimmy Maurer, GK, South Carolina Blake Brettschneider, F, South Carolina Chris Taylor, Tulsa Zach Nulisch, MF, Tulsa Curtis Ushedo, D, UAB Dustin McCarty, MF, UCF
