The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
No. 23 Blazers Open Home Slate With UAB Classic
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 15, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team opens its 2005 home slate with the UAB Classic this weekend at West Campus Field. The Blazers, ranked No. 23 in this week's NSCAA Coaches Poll, will host neighbor Birmingham-Southern, Evansville and UNC Greensboro in a Friday/Sunday, classic-style tournament.
Friday's action includes BSC and Evansville kicking off at 5 p.m. CT. That match will be followed at 7:30 p.m. CT by UAB and UNC Greensboro. Sunday will see BSC and Greensboro battle in a noon match with UAB and Evansville playing at 2:30 p.m. CT.
"The UAB Classic has become a special event for our players, our fans and the community," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "We have been fortunate to bring in some top-quality opponents to this event in the past and this year is no different. Everyone knows what a strong program Birmingham-Southern has. UNC Greensboro was ranked No. 13 to start this season and was ranked No. 1 late in the year last season. Evansville is a tough opponent out of the Missouri Valley Conference, which has some great soccer. This weekend should give each team a solid early-season test and give our fans a great set of matches to watch."
UAB carries the momentum of a school-record tying 4-0 start to the season into the weekend. The Blazers downed Alabama A&M (3-2) and Georgia State (7-0) at BSC's Jim-N-Nick's/Puma Classic last weekend. Brian Garcia scored in both matches to add to his team-leading three goals on the season. Leandro de Oliveira had another outstanding weekend with a goal and an assist for the Blazers.
Birmingham-Southern went 1-1 at their tournament last weekend with a 3-0 win over Georgia State and a 2-0 loss to Alabama A&M. The Panthers are 2-2 on the season.
UNC Greensboro began the season ranked No. 13 in the NSCAA coaches poll. The Spartans lost their opener to rival UNC Wilmington 3-2, however, and enter this weekend unranked. UNCG is 2-2 on the year. They lost to No. 3 UConn, 2-0, on Sunday at the Adidas-Brown Classic in Providence, R.I.
Evansville is 1-2-1 on the year but enters the UAB Classic hot off its first win of the season. The Purple Aces defeated Bowling Green, 2-1, Sunday.
The host Blazers have won the UAB Classic five of the seven years it has been held. UAB has not lost in the tournament since a 3-2 overtime loss to Rhode Island in 2002. The Blazers own an all-time record of 11-3 in their tournament. Birmingham-Southern has played in the UAB Classic four-straight years and is 3-5 in tournament play. UNCG and Evansville are making their first appearance in the event.
The Blazers are also playing at home for the first time in the 2005 regular season. UAB beat Mobile (Ala.), 3-2, and tied Clemson, 2-2, in preseason exhibition play this year. UAB was 8-1 at West Campus Field last year and is 85-20-6 there all-time.
The winner of the UAB Classic will be determined by win-loss record with any ties broken by goal differential. An 11-person all-tournament team will be selected by the coaches as well.
UAB Men's Soccer Game Notes in PDF Format
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