Charlotte 49ers' Parker shares C-USA's Golden Boot award

Charlotte 49ers sophomore forward Kyle Parker was named co-winner of Conference USA's men's soccer Golden Boot Award, which goes to the top scorer in league play.

Parker, who scored seven goals against C-USA opponents, shares the award with Alabama-Birmingham's Alex Clay. Parker, from Marvin Ridge High, shared the league's overall goal-scoring lead with 11 with UAB's Freddie Ruiz.

Charlotte's Giuseppe Gentile and midfielder Aidan Kirkbride were Charlotte's representatives on the first team, with defender Thomas Allen making the second team and Parker making the third team. Midfielder Brandt Bronico and defender Luke Waechter were chosen to the all-freshman team.

New Mexico's Jeremy Fishbein was named the C-USA coach of the year Tuesday, with the Lobos' Kyle Ventner winning most valuable player and defender of the year honors. Old Dominion's Tim Hopkinson is the offensive player of the year, with New Mexico's Christopher Wehan the league's freshman of the year.

The C-USA tournament begins Wednesday at Charlotte's Transamerica Field, with the sixth-seed 49ers playing No. 3 UAB at 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s quarterfinals

No. 4 South Carolina (7-6-5, 4-2-3) vs. No. 5 Tulsa (9-5-3, 4-3-2), 3 p.m.; No. 2 Old Dominion (10-4-1, 7-2) vs. No. 7 Kentucky (6-9-3, 3-4-2), 5:30 p.m.; No. 6 Charlotte (9-5-3, 4-3-2) vs. No. 3 Ala.-Birmingham (12-4-1, 5-3-1), 8 p.m.

Friday’s semifinals

South Carolina-Tulsa winner vs. No. 1 New Mexico (11-4-2, 7-1-1), 5 p.m.; ODU-Kentucky winner vs. Charlotte-UAB winner, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday’s final, 1:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

All-Conference USA First Team

F: Guiseppe Gentile, Charlotte 
F: Tim Hokinson, Old Dominion
F: Cristian Mata, Tulsa
F: Freddy Ruiz, UAB
MF: Aidan Kirkbride, Charlotte
MF: Ben McKendry, New Mexico
MF: Michael Calderon, New Mexico
MF: Omar Mata, Tulsa
D: Kyle Venter, New Mexico
D: Jason Gaylord, Old Dominion
D: Mahamoudou Kaba, South Carolina
GK: Callum Irving, Kentucky

 

All-Conference USA Second Team

F: Quentin Albrecht, FIU 
F: Diego Navarette, UAB 
MF: Gonzalo Frechilla, FIU 
MF: Brad Doliner, Kentucky 
MF: Akeil Barrett, Tulsa
MF: Alex Clay, UAB
D: Thomas Allen, Charlotte 
D: Steven Perinovic, Kentucky
D: Mathew Gibbons, New Mexico
D: Braeden Troyer, South Carolina
GK: Sean Stowe, Old Dominion

 

All-Conference USA Third Team

F: Kyle Parker, Charlotte
F: Ryan Price, Florida Atlantic 
F: James Rogers, New Mexico 
MF: Zach Hunter, Marshall
MF: Michael Kafari, New Mexico
MF: Tony Rocha, Tulsa
D: Travis Brent, Marshall
D: Bradley Bourgeois, Tulsa
D: Darion Copeland, UAB
GK: Michael Lisch, New Mexico
GK: Raphael Ville, UAB

 

Conference USA All-Freshman Team

Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte 
Luke Waechter, D, Charlotte
Marvin Hezel, MF, FIU
Napo Matsoso, MF, Kentucky
Christopher Wehan, MF, New Mexico
Niko Hansen, F, New Mexico
Jesse Miralrio, F, Old Dominion
Cole Stringer, MF, Old Dominion
Kurtis Turner, MF, South Carolina
Marco Velez, GK, South Carolina
Quinton Duncan, D, Tulsa
Jake McGuire, GK, Tulsa
Rami Dajani, F, UAB