The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
No. 30 UAB Hosts UCF In C-USA Showdown
10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 23, 2009
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 30th-ranked UAB men's soccer team will play host to the UCF Knights on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at West Campus Field. Both teams enter the contest riding hot streaks, as the Knights have won three straight games, while the Blazers have only one loss over their last nine matches (7-1-1).
UAB, which checked in at No. 30 in CollegeSoccerNews.com's latest national rankings, enters Saturday's game sporting a 9-3-1 record on the season and a 3-1-1 mark in league play. The Blazers' current overall record is the best mark over the first 13 games of a season since beginning the 2001 campaign with a 11-2 record.
The Blazers, who are also ranked No. 4 in the Midwest Region, enter Saturday's affair tied for second place in the latest C-USA standings with Tulsa at 10 points. With a victory, UAB can jump back into the top slot, as Marshall currently leads the league with 12 points on the strength of a 4-1 record in C-USA play.
Offensively, the Blazers are led by forwards Babayele Sodade and Kofi Gyawu, who have each scored six goals on the season. Sodade, a sophomore starter, leads the team with 15 points (6g, 3a), while Gyawu, a freshman who has only started one game this season, is second on the team with 13 points (6g, 1a). Senior midfielder Two-Boys Gumede (3g, 3a) is tied with Sodade for the team lead in assists and is third on the team in points (9).
Defensively, UAB has been rock solid, holding opponents to 12 goals on the year (0.98 goals allowed average). Sophomore goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski, a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honoree this season, ranks among the conference leaders in every major goalkeeping statistical category, including shutouts (1st - 5), saves (2nd - 49), save percentage (2nd - .803) and goals allowed average (3rd - 0.93).
UCF enters Saturday's match with a 6-4-2 overall record and a 2-2 mark in C-USA play. The Knights enter the contest tied for sixth in the latest league standings with six points.
Freshman midfielder Nik Robson leads UCF in goals (4), assists (5) and points (13) this season. Junior midfielder Yaron Bacher ranks second on the team with eight points (3g, 2a), while freshman defender Ben Hunt has three goals and six points on the year.
Defensively, goalkeeper Shawn Doyle has played every minute in the net for the Knights this year. The redshirt freshman has allowed 16 goals, made 42 saves and has a 1.43 GAA.
Admission is free to all UAB students with a valid ID, while students and season ticket holders are encouraged to attend a pregame tailgate with free food and drinks beginning approximately 60 minutes prior to the start of the match.
Additionally, the first 50 students inside the gate will receive a free UAB foam finger.
Saturday's match also serves as Youth Soccer Night, as all kids ages 13 and under will receive free admission to the match by wearing their uniform jersey. Additionally, the first 100 kids through the gate will receive a free C-USA wrist band and temporary tattoo.
