IRVING, Texas — Kentucky sophomore defender Dylan Asher and junior midfielder Matt Lodge have been selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team in a voting of the league coaches, it was announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
The duo were selected among the 12 players selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team. Asher was a member of the All-Conference USA team as a freshman, also earning All-America honors from CollegeSoccerNews.com. Lodge earned freshman All-America accolades in 2009, before the coaches voted him All-Conference in 2010. In addition, the league coaches picked the Wildcats for a fifth-place finish in the league, with SMU voted as the preseason pick to win the conference.
Asher, a native of Richardson, Texas, led UK in minutes played and started all 19 games, seeing time mainly on an injury-crippled UK backline. Asher tallied 14 shots on the year, with five shots on goal, joining Lodge as the only Wildcats to earn freshman All-America accolades.
A native of Rossington, England, has had a dynamic career in his two years in Lexington, appearing in 36 games with 31 starts, totaling 10 goals, five assists and 25 points. Lodge owns four game-winning goals in his career and as a sophomore, led UK in scoring with four goals and three assists. As a freshman, Lodge totaled 14 points on six goals and two assists, earning All-America accolades from Soccer America and CollegeSoccerNews.com.
The Wildcats open the 2011 season on Aug. 26 by hosting Dayton at the UK Soccer Complex.
Preseason Team Poll (1st place votes)
1. SMU (5)
2. UCF (2)
3. Tulsa (1)
4. South Carolina (1)
5. Kentucky
6. UAB
7. Marshall
8. FIU
9. Memphis
2011 C-USA Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Dylan Asher, Kentucky, D
Bradlee Baldez, South Carolina, F
Juan Castillo, SMU, F
Justin Chavez, Tulsa, D – C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Warren Creavalle, UCF, M
Kevan George, UCF, D
Anthony Hobbs, FIU, D
Arthur Ivo, SMU, M – C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Matt Lodge, Kentucky, M
Nik Robson, UCF, F
Babayele Sodade, UAB, F
Daniel Withrow, Marshall, GK
