League-High Three Soccer Stars Earn All-C-USA Honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A league-high three Kentucky men’s soccer standouts – Callum Irving, Napo Matsoso and Jordan Wilson – have been tabbed preseason All-Conference USA by the league coaches, with Irving voted as the preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Kentucky paced the preseason All-Conference USA team with its three selections, with Irving, the reigning C-USA Player of the Year and Defensive MVP, selected to repeat as the circuit’s top defender. Matsoso, a junior midfielder, and Wilson, a junior center back, were also voted to the preseason All-Conference USA team. Charlotte joined UK with three honorees, with New Mexico earning two preseason all-league performers.
A native of Vancouver, B.C., Irving is coming off an All-America season in 2014, totaling 10 shutouts and a 0.77 goals-against average. He earned C-USA Player of the Year, Defensive MVP and first-team All-C-USA honors, in addition to the Golden Glove award, given to the league-leader in shutouts in conference action (five). In his career, the senior has the third-best goals-against average (0.98) in UK history. He enters 2015 as the TopDrawerSoccer.com selection, by the nation’s coaches in the preseason, as the top goalkeeper in college soccer.
Matsoso, a first-team All-C-USA selection in 2014, totaled five goals and four assists a year ago, helping lead UK to 10 wins. Wilson was also tabbed first-team All-C-USA as a sophomore in 2014.
Kentucky will open its 2015 season on Aug. 16 with an exhibition tune-up at Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m.
2015 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kyle Parker | Charlotte | Sr. | F | Marvin, North Carolina
2015 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Callum Irving | Kentucky | Sr. | GK | Vancouver, British Columbia
2015 C-USA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Biko Bradnock-Brennan | Charlotte | Sr. | D | Cork, Ireland
Brandt Bronico | Charlotte | Jr. | MF | High Point, North Carolina
Kyle Parker | Charlotte | Sr. | F | Marvin, North Carolina
Marvin Hezel | FIU | Jr. | D | Waldshut, Germany
Callum Irving | Kentucky | Sr. | GK | Vancouver, British Columbia
Napo Matsoso | Kentucky | Jr. | MF | Louisville, Kentucky
Jordan Wilson | Kentucky | Jr. | D | Auchterarder, Scotland
Daniel Jodah | Marshall | Jr. | MF/F | Mississauga, Ontario
Niko Hansen | New Mexico | Jr. | MF/F | Sacramento, California
Chris Wehan | New Mexico | R-Jr. | MF | Laguna Niguel, California
Freddy Ruiz | UAB | Sr. | F | Fort Payne, Alabama
2015 C-USA MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches)
1. Charlotte (6)
2. New Mexico (1)
3. Kentucky (1)
4. Old Dominion
5. UAB (1)
6. FIU
7. South Carolina
8. Marshall
9. Florida Atlantic
(#) – Designates first-place votes
