The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Men's Soccer Opens Season At Rhode Island
9/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team opens the 2005 campaign with an early season classic tournament at Rhode Island this weekend. The Blazers begin with host Rhode Island Friday night, then face the Black Bears of Maine Sunday afternoon.
"This team has the potential to have a very special season," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "We lost only two starters from a very good team last year and are far deeper now than we were then. We have one of the most dynamic players in college soccer in Leandro de Oliveira and quite a few talented others to boot. The only unknown at this point is chemistry and that comes with going out there and playing. We're excited to get started."
De Oliveira is a 2005 Hermann Trophy watch list member and two-time All-American. The Blazers also return all-conference midfielder Sandy Gbandi and defender Joe Klosterman. Senior midfielder Jason McLaughlin was a member of Conference USA's postseason all-tournament team last year while forwards Jerson Monteiro and Maurice Hughes and senior goalkeeper A.J. Robles also return for Getman's club.
Friday night's match will be the second-ever meeting between the Rams and the Blazers. Rhode Island took a 3-2 overtime decision at UAB in the LaQuinta Classic in 2002. Flavio Monteiro, older brother of Jerson, scored both goals for UAB in the loss. Rhode Island got tallies from Hans Esterhuizen, Peter Benevides and Perek Belleh. UAB and Maine have never met on the pitch.
"Rhode Island is a very well-coached team and a strong soccer program," Getman said. "We know we're facing a tough test right off the bat. Maine is a team we aren't as familiar with, but know they will present a significant challenge to us as well. This event is going to give us a solid pair of matches to begin with so we can see where we are and what we need to do to get better."
The story of the weekend could be Mike Getman's 200th career victory. The Blazer bench boss is 199-112-26 in now 19 seasons as a head coach. Getman is the 40th winningest active head coach in college soccer, but 32nd in terms of winning percentage. By giving Getman his milestone, the Blazers would make a dent in avoiding a similar start to last season when they began the campaign 1-3. Two of those losses, however, were to top-20 teams in UNC Greensboro and Portland. The Blazers rebounded for a 12-7 season in which they were Conference USA regular and postseason runners-up.
Rhode Island was 12-8-1 last year. The Rams return second-leading scorer Jeffrey Gonsalves (nine goals, eight assists) from that team. Maine was 5-8-3 last year, but returns 15 letterwinners and seven starters. They spent the majority of the season without 2003 All-America East midfielder Cooper Friend, who returns for this season.
UAB saw several of its top players sit out all or part of the Blazers' exhibition contests with minor injuries, but the entire squad has been deemed healthy and for the openers this weekend. De Oliveira (calf), defender Dejan Jakovic (broken arm) and goalkeeper A.J. Robles (groin) all missed action in the preseason contests but are no longer on the injured list.
After the Rhode Island Tournament, the Blazers will return to Birmingham to participate in the BSC Puma Fall Classic next weekend at neighbor Birmingham-Southern. UAB will face Alabama A&M and Georgia State on Friday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 11, respectively, at the BSC Soccer Park.
UAB Men's Soccer Game Notes in PDF Format
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