2022 Men's Soccer Roster

Jersey Number 19
Kevin Buca
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Position:
- MF
- Height:
- 5-4
- Weight:
- 140
- Hometown:
- Rochester, Mich.
- High School:
- Stoney Creek
Bio
At Michigan
• Masters degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Graduated with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and minored in computer science
• CSC Academic All-District (2022)
• Big Ten Player to Watch (2022)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Sept, 28, 2021)
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2019-21)
• Two-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement (2018-19)
• Two-time Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree (2019, 2021)
• U-M Athletics Bates/Deskins Award (2021)
• Two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021, 2023)
• Big Ten Tournament team (2021)
• U-M Athletics Sophomore Leaders and Best Award (2020)
Graduate Student (2022)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Named CSC Academic All-District
• Saw action in 10 matches with nine starts before missing the remainder of the season due to injury
• Scored one goal and had one assist for three points
• Netted the game-winner against Northwestern (Sept. 23)
• Recorded 11 shots with three on goal
Senior (2021)
• Played and started in 16 games
• Led team in scoring with 12 points on the season (5 goals, 2 assists)
• Led team in shots with 26
• Scored goal in 2-1 victory against Chicago State (Sep. 13)
• Tallied an assist at Maryland (Sep. 17)
• Recorded his first career hat trick, scoring all three goals in 3-1 win against Northwestern (Sep. 26) - earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors
• Tallied an assist in 2-1 win vs. Rutgers (Oct. 22)
• Scored a goal at Ohio State (Oct. 26)
Junior (Spring 2021)
• Earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Tournament team
• Academic All-Big Ten and Distinguished Scholar
• Started in 10 matches and finished second on the team in scoring with nine points
• Tallied three goals and three assists
• Recorded two assists at Northwestern (Feb. 19)
• Scored first collegiate goal -- the game-winner -- in 1-0 win over MSU (Feb. 23)
• Supplied assist for game-winning goal in 1-0 (OT) win at Rutgers (March 7)
• Scored 98th minute golden goal in 2-1 (OT) win at Michigan State (March 23)
• Added his third goal in a 1-0 decision vs. MSU in the Big Ten quarterfinal (April 10)
Sophomore (2019)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• U-M Athletic Academic Achievement
• Recipient of U-M Athletics Sophomore Leaders & Best Award
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree
• Appeared in 21 matches (13 starts) in midfield, recording one assist.
• Tallied his first career point against Northwestern (Oct. 6)
Freshman (2018)
• U-M Athletic Academic Achievement
• Appeared in nine matches as a reserve.
• Made collegiate debut against UC Riverside (Aug. 31), appearing off the bench.
Prep
• High School: Stoney Creek High School (2018)
• Masters degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Graduated with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and minored in computer science
• CSC Academic All-District (2022)
• Big Ten Player to Watch (2022)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Sept, 28, 2021)
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2019-21)
• Two-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement (2018-19)
• Two-time Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree (2019, 2021)
• U-M Athletics Bates/Deskins Award (2021)
• Two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021, 2023)
• Big Ten Tournament team (2021)
• U-M Athletics Sophomore Leaders and Best Award (2020)
Graduate Student (2022)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Named CSC Academic All-District
• Saw action in 10 matches with nine starts before missing the remainder of the season due to injury
• Scored one goal and had one assist for three points
• Netted the game-winner against Northwestern (Sept. 23)
• Recorded 11 shots with three on goal
Senior (2021)
• Played and started in 16 games
• Led team in scoring with 12 points on the season (5 goals, 2 assists)
• Led team in shots with 26
• Scored goal in 2-1 victory against Chicago State (Sep. 13)
• Tallied an assist at Maryland (Sep. 17)
• Recorded his first career hat trick, scoring all three goals in 3-1 win against Northwestern (Sep. 26) - earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors
• Tallied an assist in 2-1 win vs. Rutgers (Oct. 22)
• Scored a goal at Ohio State (Oct. 26)
Junior (Spring 2021)
• Earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Tournament team
• Academic All-Big Ten and Distinguished Scholar
• Started in 10 matches and finished second on the team in scoring with nine points
• Tallied three goals and three assists
• Recorded two assists at Northwestern (Feb. 19)
• Scored first collegiate goal -- the game-winner -- in 1-0 win over MSU (Feb. 23)
• Supplied assist for game-winning goal in 1-0 (OT) win at Rutgers (March 7)
• Scored 98th minute golden goal in 2-1 (OT) win at Michigan State (March 23)
• Added his third goal in a 1-0 decision vs. MSU in the Big Ten quarterfinal (April 10)
Sophomore (2019)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• U-M Athletic Academic Achievement
• Recipient of U-M Athletics Sophomore Leaders & Best Award
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree
• Appeared in 21 matches (13 starts) in midfield, recording one assist.
• Tallied his first career point against Northwestern (Oct. 6)
Freshman (2018)
• U-M Athletic Academic Achievement
• Appeared in nine matches as a reserve.
• Made collegiate debut against UC Riverside (Aug. 31), appearing off the bench.
Prep
• High School: Stoney Creek High School (2018)
Club/
• Vardar
• Played in Gothia Cup and Milk Cup (2015)
• Co-captain of Vardar U-19 and U-16 squads.
• Led U-19 team in assists as a senior
• Led U-16 team in goals during U.S Soccer Development Academy playoffs.
Personal
• Birthday: November 20, 2000
• Son of Rodica and Valentin Buca
• Currently pursuing a masters degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Graduated with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and minored in computer science
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