The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
UAB falls at C-USA Rival Memphis, 2-1
10/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Despite two goals from forward Jerson Monteiro, the UAB men's soccer team fell to Conference USA rival Memphis, 3-2, here Wednesday night. With the loss, the Blazers fall to 6-5-2 oveall and 1-2-1 in Conference USA play, while Memphis improves to 9-4 and 2-2 in league play.
The Tiger offense, ranked 13th in the nation in scoring offense coming into the contest at 2.17 goals per game, struck first. Freshman defender Rick Alleman and junior forward Jared Britcher worked two quick passes through the UAB defense to find an open Shaun Goulding. The sophomore forward drilled his fourth goal of the season into the top left corner of the net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
Memphis converted on another opportunity ten minutes later. Sophomore midfielder Tripp Harkins sent a free kick toward the net and found his classmate Robert Sausaman. The defender headed in his first goal of the season to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.
UAB got back into the game in the second half with a pair of headers from senior forward Jerson Monteiro. Monteiro drove home a header through traffic for his first goal of the game in the 55th minute. Monteiro struck again 19 minutes later by knocking home a Derick Radcliffe corner kick with just over 15 minutes remaining. The goals were Monteiro's team-leading eighth and ninth of the campaign.
However, with just over 11 minutes left, the Tigers went ahead for good. Sophomore forward Grant Wise received a pass from Britcher and drove home the game-winner in the 78th minute.
The Blazers has a few scoring chances as the game wound down, but could not get the ball past Tiger goalkeeper Tyler Strom, who recorded six saves on the night.
The road doesn't get any easier for the Blazers after Wednesday's contest, as UAB returns home to West Campus field to take on No. 18 Kentucky at 7 p.m. Getman and the men's soccer team hope to draw a big student fan base for the game. Any UAB student who presents a valid ID at the gates will receive a free UAB men's soccer t-shirt, as well as a free dinner.
