Dec. 14, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After helping lead the Kentucky men’s soccer team to a league-leading 0.78 goals-against average, senior defender Barry Rice earned his third All-America honor of the postseason, College Soccer News announced.

A native of Parma, Ohio, Rice was tabbed to the third team by College Soccer News. His honor from CSN marks his third All-America accolade of the 2009 season, as he was named All-America by Goal.com and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

A 5-foot-11 defender, Rice has etched his name throughout the UK record books. Rice will exit Kentucky as the most decorated player in the 19-year history of the program, becoming the first player in school history to earn All-America honors in two seasons. Last year, Rice was named All-America by Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News.

During the 2009 season, the 2009 first-team All-Conference USA performer helped lead a stingy UK defense that recorded seven shutouts and a Conference USA-leading 0.78 goals-against average. Rice totaled two goals on the year, including a game-winning goal in overtime at UCF. He finished the year playing in 1,627 minutes and 18 games.

In his storied four-year career, Rice has started each game of his career, a span of 78 games, totaling 31 points (12 goals, seven assists). Rice ranks sixth all-time with seven career game-winning goals. His best offensive season came in 2007, when he led the team with seven goals and one assist, totaling three game-winning goals for an offense-starved UK club. Following the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Rice earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Year accolades, marking the first player in league history to win the honor in consecutive seasons.