LEXINGTON, Ky. — Owner of two consecutive game-winning goals to open the Kentucky men’s soccer season – including both goals in a 2-1 comeback win over No. 9 Michigan on Sunday – sophomore Tyler Riggs has been named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Player of the Week, it was announced by the organization.
Riggs joins North Carolina women’s soccer forward Courtney Jones as the NSCAA National Players of the Week, chosen by a NSCAA committee weekly. Riggs and Jones will be honored during the NSCAA College Game of the Week (Stanford vs. No. 4 Maryland) telecast on the Fox Soccer Channel on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
A native of Louisville, Ky., and a product of St. Xavier, Riggs came off the bench to star in the two wins on opening weekend, netting the game winner vs. Dayton on Friday and both tallies in the 2-1 upset of No. 9 Michigan on Sunday.
On Friday, for the second consecutive season, Riggs netted the game-winning goal in the season opener vs. UD, also posting a game winner in his first career collegiate game in 2010 against Eastern Illinois. In the matchup with 2010 College Cup member Michigan on Sunday, Riggs came off the bench and erased a 1-0 hole with a goal in the 78th minute, cleaning up a pair of hard-hit shots inside the six-yard box. Riggs then lifted UK into the 2-1 lead with a goal in the 82nd frame, a gorgeous run down the near sideline and a hard-hit shot under a diving UM keeper into the side netting at the far post.
Through his first two games of the year, Riggs has fired six total shots, including two on goal, with his six shots ranking second-best on the club.
Earlier in the week, Riggs earned his first career Conference USA Player of the Week and Soccer America National Team of the Week accolades. Riggs is the first UK player to earn national NSCAA Player of the Week honors since Tim Crone was honored in November of 2007, following his heroic performance in UK’s 2-1 comeback win over No. 1 SMU.
No. 21 Kentucky (2-0-0) returns to action on Friday, hosting the 10th annual University of Kentucky Invitational. UK will host Wright State at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday and IUPUI on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex.
Tickets are $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors and youth. Tickets are all general admission, and can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 1-800-928-2287 or purchasing at the soccer complex prior to each event. Group tickets (20+ people) are available by calling the ticket office in advance of the event.
