Coming off a 2019 season in which seven players earned All-Conference USA accolades, including the league’s top individual honor, the Kentucky men’s soccer team further added to its trophy case with four United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region awards on Monday.
Aimé Mabika and Kalil ElMedkhar were each voted to the All-Southeast Region first team. Enrique Facusse landed on the second team, while Marcel Meinzer was named third-team All-Southeast Region.
First-team recognition makes both Mabika and ElMedkhar eligible to earn United Soccer Coaches All-America status, scheduled for announcement on Thursday.
Mabika was named the C-USA’s Player of the Year and Co-Defensive MVP, as well as first-team All-Conference on Nov. 12. By the time the Wildcats’ season ended at 13-5-3 (4-2-1 C-USA) in the second round of the NCAA Championship on Nov. 24, the 6-foot-6 Lexington native anchored a UK defense that led the conference in shutouts with nine.
ElMedkhar led the Cats with seven assists and 22 shots on goal, tying sophomore forward Daniel Evans for the team lead in points (19) and total shots (42) despite playing one fewer match due to injury. The junior midfielder from Middletown, Delaware, scored a goal in four straight matches from Sept. 15-28 before being named first-team All-Conference.
Facusse’s eight solo shutout efforts ranked 15th in the nation, while his save percentage of .878 placed 28th. Meinzer tied Evans for second on the team with five assists, starting all 21 matches and leading all primarily offensive players in minutes with 1,809. Both players were voted to the All-C-USA second team at season’s end.
Mabika, ElMedkhar and Facusse were each named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region team in 2018. Mabika (third team) and Facusse (second team) went on to earn All-America distinction.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s soccer team, follow @UKMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.
‑ GO CATS –
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