Kentucky senior defender Jordan Wilson was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Monday.
Kentucky had the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row, as goalkeeper Stuart Ford earned the honor last week.
Wilson was dominant Saturday against No. 14/15 Charlotte in a battle between one of the nation’s top offenses and an elite defense. Then he scored the golden goal in the 108th minute to give Kentucky a 1-0 victory.
Wilson was key at the heart of the UK defense which frustrated Conference USA’s top scoring offense in terms of goals per game (2.25) for 108 minutes.
He leads the back four that has been vital to Kentucky’s 0.46 goals against average, which ranks No. 8 nationally and leads the league. Kentucky was the second team to shut out Charlotte this season.
His goal was the second of his career. He also headed home off a corner in a 1-0 win over South Carolina, last season.
Wilson won 63 percent (10 of 16) of his challenges, and 63 percent (five of eight) of his aerial duels against Charlotte.
Wilson played 45 minutes of Kentucky’s 1-1 midweek draw with Lipscomb. He showed his above average skills on the ball against Lipscomb, completing 74 percent of his passes (23 of 31).
He was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for the third time, as he also earned the honor once each of the past two years.
Kentucky holds at No. 9 in RPI
Kentucky remained ranked No. 9 in the Rating Percentage Index, released by the NCAA on Monday.
The Wildcats were ranked No. 20 in the NSCAA Coaches’ Poll last week, with the new rankings set to be released Tuesday.
The next one
Kentucky will now hit the road for a two-match road trip that’s comprised of a Wednesday match at Evansville and a return to league play at UAB on Saturday.
The Evansville match will streamed live on WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
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The best coverage of UK men’s soccer is available via UKMensSoccer handles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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For more information contact:
Jake Most (859-257-3838; jake.most@uky.edu)
From: Samson Bekure
Sent: Monday, October 3, 2016 1:48 PM
Subject: MSOC: Oct. 3 CUSA Players of the Week
MSOC: Oct. 3 CUSA Players of the Week
October 03, 2016
IRVING, Texas – Sophomore Bjorn Gudjonsson of South Carolina was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week after tallying three goals and extending the Gamecocks’ win streak to six after victories over Marshall and High Point. Senior Jordan Wilson of No. 20 Kentucky was tabbed C-USA Defensive Player of the Week after leading a back-line that only gave up one goal as well as netting the golden goal in double-overtime against conference-foe No. 14 Charlotte.
C-USA Offensive Player of the Week – Bjorn Gudjonsson, South Carolina, So., F, Reykjavik, Iceland
Gudjonsson scored three goals last week en route to helping the Gamecocks extend their six-match win streak with two more victories. Gudjonsson had two goals in the second half against High Point, marking his first career multi-goal performance. He scored again Sunday night in the first half against C-USA foe Marshall to help propel South Carolina to a 2-1 win. This is Gudjonsson’s first C-USA Player of the Week award of his career.
C-USA Defensive Player of the Week – Jordan Wilson, Kentucky, Sr., D, Auchterarder, Scotland
Wilson turned in a dominant defensive display against No. 14 Charlotte, playing at the heart of the UK defense which frustrated Conference USA’s top scoring offense. He then scored the golden goal in a 1-0 win against the 49ers in double-overtime. The goal came on a header in the 108th minute. Wilson also has a strong performance in 45 minutes of action in a 1-1 draw with Lipscomb. This is Wilson’s first C-USA Player of the Week award this year, but third of his career.
2016 C-USA Offensive Players of the Week
· A29 Niko Klosterhalfen, Old Dominion
· S6 Marco Sunol-Rojas, Charlotte
· S12 Sebastian Hauret, Old Dominion
· S19 Santiago Patino, FIU
· S26 Kurtis Turner, South Carolina
· O3 Bjorn Gudjonsson, South Carolina
2016 C-USA Defensive Players of the Week
· A29 Aaron Herrera, New Mexico
· S6 Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
· S12 Jimmy Filerman, Old Dominion
· S19 Elliot Panicco, Charlotte
· S26 Stuart Ford, Kentucky
· O3 Jordan Wilson, Kentucky
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Samson Bekure
Communications Assistant | C-USA