Nov. 6, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A school-record total of seven Kentucky men’s soccer standouts have been selected to the 2012 All-Conference USA team, in a voting of the league coaches, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats had a total of seven players honored in the annual post-season awards, selected by the circuit coaches. With seven players honored, UK has tied the school-record for the most players to earn post-season conference awards, joining the 2003-04 teams. Since joining C-USA for the 2004 season, UK has had as many has six players to earn All-Conference USA accolades, coming in 2006.
Senior midfielder Matt Lodge and junior defender Steven Perinovic were selected first-team All-Conference USA. Junior goalkeeper Jack Van Arsdale and senior midfielder Cameron Wilder were tabbed second-team with junior forward Tyler Riggs and junior defender Dylan Asher selected third-team All-Conference USA. Defender Jacob Speed was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
A native of Rossington, England, Lodge earned his fourth career All-Conference USA selection, as a 2009 All-Freshman team honoree and joining the second-team in 2010 and the third-team in 2011. Lodge had seven goals and two assists for the Wildcats in the regular-season firing 60 shots and netting three game-winning goals. In his four-year career, Lodge has 24 goals and 17 assists (65 points), owning the UK career record for shots (197).
Perinovic, a native of Delafield, Wis., has been a weapon for the Wildcats at center back in 2012. The 6-foot-2 defender has started all 18 games, owning one goal. His goal came as the game-winning tally in a win over East Tennessee State on Sept. 19. Perinovic, who leads the team with 1602 minutes played, has played in 56 games in his career, making 50 starts.
In his first year as the starter, Van Arsdale was voted second-team All-Conference USA. The Richmond, Va., native has played in 16 games for UK in goal, owning a 1.14 goals-against average. He has saved 45 shots and owns four shutouts, with his goals-against average ranking as the 11th-best in UK single-season history. In his career, Van Arsdale has a 1.26 goals-against average in 19 games, with 51 saves.
A native of Kennesaw, Ga., Wilder was tabbed to the second-team. A force in the midfield for the Wildcats, Wilder earned his first career conference accolade while helping UK achieve nine wins as the Wildcats co-captain with Lodge. Wilder has played in all 18 games for UK and has logged 46 starts in 67 games in his career.
Asher, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, was named to the third-team, joining Van Arsdale. The Richardson, Texas, native has started 16 of UK’s 18 games, missing two contests due to injury. The two-time All-Conference USA defender, shifted to forward late in the year in place of Riggs, who was nursing an injury. Asher netted his first four career goals in a two-game stretch at forward, earning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors. Asher has played in 48 games with 46 starts in his career, owning four goals and three assists.
Riggs, UK’s leading scorer, was named to the third-team, his third career All-Conference USA honor. A native of Louisville, Ky., Riggs leads UK with seven goals and four assists in 16 games with 14 starts. The St. Xavier product has 23 goals and nine assists in his three-year career, with six game-winning tallies and 102 shots.
A 6-foot-3 defender out of Mansfield, Texas, Speed became UK’s sixth consecutive All-Freshman selection, dating back to Barry Rice and Dan Williams in 2006. Speed has started the last 17 games of the year for UK at center back, forming a dynamic defending tandem with Perinovic. Speed has played in all 18 games in 2012, helping lead UK to a 1.26 goals-against average.
Kentucky (9-8-1, 4-3-1 C-USA) opens postseason play on Wednesday, traveling to Regions Park in Hoover, Ala., for the C-USA Tournament, hosted by UAB. The Wildcats will face off with Memphis in the first round, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. ET.
2012 CONFERENCE USA AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Tim McClements, SMU
Players of the Year: Jaime Ibarra, SMU/Daniel Withrow, Marshall
Offensive Player of the Year: Mark Sherrod, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaime Ibarra, SMU
Freshman of the Year: Cristian Mata, Tulsa
First Team
GK Daniel Withrow, Marshall
GK Jaime Ibarra, SMU
F Mark Sherrod, Memphis
F Cristian Mata, Tulsa
F Deshorn Brown, UCF
M Matt Lodge, Kentucky
M Liam Collins, Memphis
M Omar Mata, Tulsa
D Steven Perinovic, Kentucky
D Mladen Lemez, UAB
D Andrew Quintana, UCF
Second Team
GK Jack Van Arsdale, Kentucky
F Quentin Albrecht, FIU
F Tom Jackson, Marshall
F Tyler Engel, SMU
F Bradlee Baladez, South Carolina
F Kofi Gyawu, UAB
M Cameron Wilder, Kentucky
M T.J. Nelson, SMU
M Braeden Troyer, South Carolina
D Damien Rosales, SMU
D Aaron Simmons, SMU
D Darion Copeland, UAB
D Reed Matte, UAB
D Ben Hunt, UCF
Third Team
GK Mark Pais, Tulsa
F Tyler Riggs, Kentucky
M Daniel Gonzalez, FIU
M Devin Perkins, Marshall
M Andrew Morales, SMU
M Chase Wickham, UAB
M Fatai Alabi, UAB
M Omar Vallejo, UCF
D Joseph Dawkins, FIU
D Anthony Hobbs, FIU
D Dylan Asher, Kentucky
D Jordan Johnson, Memphis
D Mike Mangotic, South Carolina
D Tony Rocha, Tulsa
All-Freshman
GK Robin Spiegel, FIU
F Cristian Mata, Tulsa
F Bryce Follensbee, Tulsa
F Karl Chester, UAB
F Ian Svantesson, UAB
M Daniel Gonzalez, FIU
M Quincy Thomas, Memphis
M John Lujano, SMU
D Jacob Speed, Kentucky
D Jack Hopkins, Marshall
D Michael King, SMU
D Bradley Bourgeois, Tulsa
