The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis*
Men's Soccer Falls To Memphis, 1-0
10/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The No. 21 UAB men's soccer team outshot Conference USA rival Memphis, 18-10, on the evening; however, it was the Tigers who earned a 1-0 victory here Wednesday night on West Campus Field. The Blazers certainly had their chances throughout the contest, hitting the post on three occassions, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The Blazers (6-3-2, 2-2 C-USA), who began the season undefeated through their first eight contests, have dropped three consecutive games, scoring only two goals during the skid. The three straight losses marks the first time UAB has lost three consecutive games since it opened the 1999 campaign 0-3. The Blazers would eventually reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament that same year.
"I thought we played well and completely dominated the second half," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Yet we continue to give up free kick goals and lose games we feel we shouldn't lose. It's certainly frustrating and I think we are playing well, but at some point it has to be about getting results and we are not getting that right now."
The Tigers (4-5-1, 1-3-1 C-USA) scored the lone goal of the game at the 55:36 mark when Dayton O'Brien bent a free kick from 22-yards out into the lower right corner. The goal was his fifth of the season.
Oswaldo Gallegos had the best scoring chance for UAB. At the 84:35 mark, the senior from Houston, Texas found himself wide open off a corner kick and headed the ball off the crossbar. It was the third time in the contest a UAB player hit the post, as Leandro de Oliveira and Jose Rayo preceded Gallegos' unlucky bounce.
"We are creating chances and dominating games, but that's not good enough," said Getman. "The ball has got to go in the back of the net. We have scored two goals in the last three games and that is just not good enough in this league. We've got to get better at finishing. I don't think we need to panic and give up on what we're doing, but we've got to get better."
The Blazers will attempt to snap the three-game skid on Saturday, October 11, when they travel to face the 49ers of Charlotte. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.
