Callum Irving Repeats as NSCAA Scholar All-America
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Callum Irving – widely considered the top
goalkeeper in the country – was honored for his accomplishments in the
classroom as well as on the pitch by the National Soccer Coaches Association of
America on Thursday. He repeated as a First Team Scholar All American.
Irving actually improved his cumulative GPA to a 3.9 in history, this
year.
He is the first-ever UK men’s soccer player to earn Scholar All-America honors
in multiple years. Upon being named First Team All-America for his on-pitch
performance, last week, he became UK’s first-ever two-time NSCAA All-American,
as he earned third team honors last year.
To be named to a Scholar All-America Team, players were required to have at
least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout their
career; start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant
contributor to the team.
Irving led Kentucky to an undefeated run through the 2015 conference
season, earning Kentucky’s first-ever Conference USA Championship. And perhaps
more impressively, he did so while conceding just one goal in eight league
matches.
He finished his UK career with the program’s all-time records in shutouts (27)
and goals-against average (minimum 2,500 minutes – 0.86).
“I love this place,” Irving said of his UK career. “I came in as a freshman and
it didn’t quite go exactly as I had planned. Everyone comes in with a thought
of how they want it to go, and it went the exact opposite of that. The coaching
staff had a lot of faith in me still, as well as my teammates.
“I kind of found my place here and
found my home. Over the past three years, I can see where we built it from and
see that I had an impact on it. I just feel really lucky to be here the past
four years. I have enjoyed my time, and I think I will be following UK men’s
soccer forever. It is my family now.”
For the second time in as many seasons, Irving garnered three C-USA men’s
soccer specialty awards as he was voted the Conference USA Player of the Year,
the Conference USA Defensive MVP and a First-Team All-C-USA selection — all
accolades he was bestowed a year ago. He also repeated as recipient of the
Golden Glove Award, given to the goalkeeper who posts the most shutouts in
C-USA play. Irving posted a 0.66 goals-against average (11th, NCAA) in 19
matches in 2015, totaling nine shutouts. Seven of the clean sheets came against
C-USA opponents as he notched a 0.12 goals-against average, allowing just one
goal in eight conference matches (773:45 minutes). Irving was named All-America
by the NSCAA last season.
All-Americans and their accomplishments will be celebrated
and recognized at the NSCAA All-America Luncheon held during the 2016 NSCAA Convention in Baltimore on Saturday, Jan. 16, starting at noon.
Luncheon registration for players, coaches, and their families is open and
available at NSCAA.com/aaregistration.
