The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Carolina
No. 25 UAB Defeats No. 20 South Carolina, 3-2, In Opening Round Of C-USA Men's Soccer Tournament
11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 1, 2006
TULSA, Okla. - Senior forward Jerson Monteiro scored the game-winning goal with 49 seconds remaining in the contest, to lift the No. 25 UAB men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over No. 20 South Carolina in the opening round of the 2006 Conference USA Tournament here Wednesday. The win was the Blazers' fifth over a ranked opponent on the season.
With the win, the Blazers are peaking at just the right time as they compete in postseason play and a possible berth into the NCAA Tournament. The win over the Gamecocks marked the fourth win in their last five contests, three of which came against ranked opponents (then-No. 18 Kentucky, then-No. 1 SMU, No. 19 South Carolina).
"That was a good win against a very good South Carolina team," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "I don't know if we can do a whole lot more than what we are doing. We are scoring goals, we're playing well and we are beating teams ranked in the top 25. You always hope to peak at the end of the season. I don't know how much more you can peak than this. We are very pleased with where we are, but the job is still not finished."
The game-winning goal came at the 89:11 mark when second-team all-conference honoree Two-Boys Gumede drilled a pass into the middle of the penaltly box. Monteiro, a First-Team All-Conference USA performer, then drilled the shot over the top of USC goalkeeper Mike Gustavson into the top netting for the go ahead goal. It marked the first lead of the game for UAB.
The Blazers dominated the second half of play, outscoring the Gamecocks, 2-0, outshooting them, 15-5, and recording a 6-1 advantage on corner kicks in the final 45 minutes of play. The momentum swinger was a red card issued to South Carolina's Ayo Akinsete after vicious head butt to UAB senior defender Joe Klosterman at the 59:32 mark.
The Gamecocks didn't take long to get the first goal of the game, scoring in the 15th minute of action. South Carolina's Makon Hislop took a free kick which found the feet of Akinsete. Akinsete then found forward Mike Sambursky who drilled a shot into the left side of the net, beating UAB goalkeeper Wes Johnson to give the Gamecocks an early one goal lead.
UAB had several opportunities to even the score after South Carolina's opening goal. Sophomore First Team All-Conference USA performer Dejan Jakovic drove a free kick from 30 yards, but the shot was saved by the goalkeeper Mike Gustavson. Monteiro had another golden opportunity from six-yards out, but Gustavson was again in the right place to make the diving save.
The Blazers finally answered at the 37:16 mark off a corner kick. Sophomore Carlo Schiavoni took the corner that found the head of sophomore Trey Gregory. Gregory then flicked the ball towards the back post where a wide-open Michael Biggs was standing. Biggs then deposited the ball past USC goalkeeper Mike Gustavson to even the score at one apiece. The goal was Biggs' first of the 2006 season, and second of his career.
However, the Gamecocks were able to regain the lead just 1:50 prior to the half. USC's Ralph Pace headed a long throw-in from Schuyler Reardon, which floated over Johnson and into the top right corner. The goal gave the Gamecocks a 2-1 advantage as the team's went into the locker rooms.
The Blazers controlled the run of play throughout most of the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Gamecocks, 7-4, and holding a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Blazers again responded from a one-goal disadvantage to tie the game at the 53:19 mark. Following a Schiavoni free kick into the penalty area, Jakovic headed the ball into the middle of the goal box. Monteiro received the pass and hit a shot that caromed off the right post and into a melee of both UAB and USC players in the middle of a wide open goal. Eventually, it was Gregory who was able to get a foot on the ball and into the back of the South Carolina net.
Shortly after the red card, senior forward Lukasz Kwapisz nearly gave his team the lead; however his diving header hit off the cross bar and was cleared out by the Gamecock defense.
The Blazers will have a day off before taking on No. 2 SMU in the semifinals. UAB is the only team to defeat the Mustangs this season, pulling off a 2-1 upset on Oct. 25 in Birmingham. SMU improved to 16-1-3 on the season earlier in the day with a 6-0 win over Florida International. The two teams will kickoff at 5 p.m. CT on Friday afternoon. The game can be followed live on gametracker, by clicking on the UAB men's soccer schedule.
