The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women's Soccer Announces 2007 Spring Schedule
2/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 12, 2007
UAB Women's Soccer Spring Schedule
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB women's soccer team is fresh off a Conference USA tournament championship and trip to the NCAA tournament, but the Blazers are headed straight back to work as the 2007 spring schedule has been announced. The spring slate will be challenging for the Blazers, highlighted by five matches against teams from the Southeastern Conference and the Reality All-Star Soccer Festival in Birmingham on April 21.
"For us, the spring is all about individual and team development," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "We are extremely excited about the opportunities for our team to continue to develop at a very high level. Nearly every match scheduled is against an NCAA tournament-level team or a conference champion."
UAB will kick off its spring schedule with a pair of matches in Memphis, Tenn, as the Blazers will face Vanderbilt and in-state foe Jacksonville State on February 24.
The Blazers will then host two matches on March 3, bringing Alabama and Ole Miss to West Campus Field for a pair of games. UAB will stay in Birmingham to take on Samford on March 8 before hosting its Alumni game on March 31 at West Campus Field. A pair of games in Athens, Ga. against Georgia and Tennessee follows on April 14.
"This is exactly the type of competition we want to be playing on a regular basis," said Harbin. In addition, our annual alumni game is always an intense, competitive match. Coming off a tough month of conditioning, I know we are all ready to get started playing again."
One of the biggest events of the spring season for the Blazers is hosting Ethan Zohn's Reality All-Star Festival on April 21. The 1 p.m. match will feature the UAB women's soccer team versus a host of reality television stars in a charity soccer match.
Ethan Zohn, the winner from CBS's Survivor: Africa, is the founder of Grassroots Soccer, which uses the power of soccer in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Along with the soccer match, a charity dinner and auction will also be held that night at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the UAB ticketing webpage.
"The Reality All-Star Festival is an unbelievable opportunity for us to take part in helping to mobilize the local soccer community in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Harbin. "Ethan Zohn's genuine passion for what he is doing with Grassroot Soccer is amazing.
"To be invited to take part in this event along with the Reality TV and International Soccer Stars is a tremendous honor for our staff and players. We hope to have a huge crowd out to the game and will do everything we can to make it happen for a wonderful cause."
