Sept. 4, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior defender Steven Perinovic and freshman defender Jacob Speed have been named to the Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team, it was announced.

The UK defenders were named to the Gamecock Classic All-Tournament team, as the Wildcats faced a pair of stiff competitors in No. 25 Northwestern and No. 15 St. John’s, suffering a pair of one-goal losses.

A native of Delafield, Wis., Perinovic was a force in the air throughout the weekend on the UK backline. The six-foot defender has started all three games for the Wildcats in 2012, logging 252 minutes. In his career, Perinovic has played in 41 games with 35 starts, totaling two assists. Last year, Perinovic played in 20 games with 18 starts for the UK defense. In UK’s lone 2012 preseason game, Perinovic netted a goal on a header off a corner kick.

Speed, a native of Mansfield, Texas, made his first career starts this weekend at the Gamecock Classic and performed well on the UK backline. He has played in three games and logged 202 minutes in his freshman campaign. A 6-foot-3 freshman, Speed comes to UK after starring in the Texas prep circuit, playing at Mansfield High School and with the club Dallas Texans.  

Kentucky (0-3) opens up its home schedule on Friday with the UK Invitational, as the Wildcats host St. Joseph’s at 7 p.m. ET at the UK Soccer Complex. UK then continued its string of challenging opponents on Sunday, taking on the 2011 NCAA runner-up, No. 8 Charlotte at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team

Jack Bennett, St. John’s
Tim Parker, St. John’s
Jamie Thomas, St. John’s
Rafael Diaz, St. John’s
Joey Calistri, Northwestern
Kyle Schickel, Northwestern
Lepe Seetane, Northwestern
Eric Martinez, South Carolina
Kevin Stam, South Carolina

Jacob Speed, Kentucky


Steven Perinovic, Kentucky