The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer Opens Home Schedule With Nike Classic
9/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB (0-1-1) welcomes three teams - Birmingham-Southern, Rhode Island and Charlotte - to West Campus Field this weekend when it hosts the fourth annual Nike Classic on September 6-8. Of the four teams, three of them - UAB, Rhode Island and Charlotte - competed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
"We are getting ready for a tough tournament," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "The first game we play is an NCAA Tournament team in Rhode Island and then we play Birmingham-Southern which may be the toughest of the two games only because of the crosstown rivalry."
UAB will open play against crosstown rival Birmingham-Southern which enters tournament play with an 0-2 record. Most recently, the Panthers dropped a 3-2 double-overtime decision to Denver at the Falcon Invitational in Denver, Colo. The Panthers are led by sophomore Jamie Holmes who has two points and a team-leading eight shots.
The Blazers then face Rhode Island, which also enters tournament play with an 0-2 record on the season after dropping its first two games to a pair of ACC teams in Maryland and Virginia. The Rams' lone goal in the two games came from senior Peer Benvides.
Also competing in the tournament will be Conference USA member Charlotte. The 49ers come to Birmingham after playing just one game this season, falling to Radford 1-0. The Blazers and 49ers will not meet this weekend and will face eachother in Birmingham, Ala. on October 5.
"We are bringing in three teams which are each very good," said Getman. "If people like to see an exciting, competitive brand of soccer, then they should come to West Campus Field Friday and Sunday."
The first game on Friday, September 6 will feature Charlotte vs. Rhode Island at 5:30 p.m. The Blazers will then face Birmingham-Southern at approximately 8 p.m.
Sunday's slate of games will be Charlotte vs. Birmingham Southern at Noon followed by UAB and Rhode Island at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Free UAB team schedule posters will be given while supplies last for the UAB game on Friday night. The team will hold a postgame signing for fans who want to get the players autographs. Admission will be for free for children two and under, children 3-12 is $2 and 13 and over $5.
