Jan. 6, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After earning freshman All-America honors from Soccer America earlier in the offseason, Kentucky men’s soccer leading scorer Matt Lodge has been named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman team, it was announced.

Lodge, the first freshman All-America selection in the 19-year history of the program, was selected to the third team by College Soccer News. Soccer America tabbed the midfielder second-team All-America, one of 22 freshman standouts listed.

A native of Rossington, England, Lodge had a breakout season in his first collegiate campaign, leading UK in scoring with 14 points (six goals, two assists). In addition, he led the team in game-winning goals (three), shots (43) and shots on goal (19).

Lodge opened the year strong, getting points in four consecutive matches and netting four goals and adding an assist in the first five games of the year. With UK needing to chart wins in conference play late in the year to clinch a long-shot postseason berth, Lodge stepped up and netted goals in back-to-back games, at Memphis and at South Carolina. His goals against South Carolina, Alabama A&M and SIU-Edwardsville marked game-winning goals.

Kentucky totaled 13 wins in 2009, including opening the season with a school-record 5-0 start. After a 0-3 start to conference play – all one-goal losses late in the game – Kentucky needed to win its remaining five matches, including four on the road, to clinch a postseason berth. UK did just that, claiming wins in five consecutive matches in conference play to secure a berth in the postseason. Following the season, UK senior defender Barry Rice became the first player in school history to earn back-to-back All-America accolades.