Oct. 29, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After netting the game-winning goal in a win at No. 23 Tulsa on Saturday night, Kentucky men’s soccer senior midfielder Matt Lodger has been selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week, it was announced on Monday afternoon.
A native of Rossington, England, Lodge joins junior defender Steven Perinovic as Wildcats who have earned awards following the crucial road win, as Perinovic was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week and to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Lodge finished his third game-winning goal of the year at Tulsa on Saturday, coming as a penalty kick tally in the 15th minute. The 5-foot-10 talent struck a hard-hit ball to the goalkeeper’s right, with enough pace on the ball to skip into the net. The goal was Lodge’s seventh of the year – tying him for the team lead – and the 24th of his career.
On the year, Lodge has started all 16 games, with seven goals and two assists, firing 51 shots and finishing 2-of-2 penalty kicks. He ranks among the career record holders in nearly every offensive category, including points (65; sixth), goals (24; fourth), shots (188; first), assists (17; third) and game-winning goals (9; third).
Kentucky (9-6-1, 4-1-1 C-USA) is in the midst of a blistering pace over its last 11 games, owning an 8-2-1 record with three road top-25 wins. The Wildcats entered the win at Tulsa – who ranked No. 16 in the RPI – with the top strength of schedule in the league (No. 13), the second-best NCAA RPI (No. 18) and the second-most road wins in the nation (five).
UK will return to action on Wednesday, with two games remaining in the regular-season and the Wildcats battling for a shot at the C-USA Title. UK will host UCF on Wednesday, with kickoff at the UK Soccer Complex slated for 7 p.m. ET.
Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week
GK Klay Davis, Charlotte
D Kyle Venter, New Mexico
D Tommy Muller, Georgetown
D Chad Barson, Akron
D Jimmy Nealis, Georgetown
MF Matt Lodge, Kentucky
MF Ryan Hollingshead, UCLA
MF Mario Herrera Meraz, VCU
F Ryan Finley, Notre Dame
F Ricky Garbanzo, Coastal Carolina
F Erik Hurtado, Santa Clara
