LA JOLLA, Calif. - Jared Kukura, a junior defender on the UC San Diego men's soccer team, earned honorable mention accolades within the California Collegiate Athletic Association, conference officials announced Wednesday.

The San Diego native has been a stalwart for UCSD's backline, playing consistently solid defense for a squad that posted a goals against average of 1.05 in 2009, allowing 22 goals while facing 305 shots in 20 matches. The Tritons finished their season with an overall record of 7-9-4 and a 4-9-3 CCAA mark.

Kukura has now received conference honors in all three of his seasons at UCSD. The CCAA awarded him with honorable mention accolades as a freshman in 2007 and then named him to the Second Team during his sophomore campaign.

Notably supporting Kukura on defense this season were goalkeeper Peter Akman and defenders Chris Gutierrez, Josh Jackson, Daniel Pavitt and Tyler Zupan.

A University City High School graduate, Kukura majors in Biochemistry at Muir College.