The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Gumede, Woszczynski Sweep C-USA Player Of The Week Awards
10/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 5, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB men's soccer players Two-Boys Gumede (Louisville, Ky.) and Carl Woszczynski (Columbus, Ind.) have been tabbed the Conference USA men's soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league announced on Monday. It marks the first time since the week of Nov. 3, 2003 that the Blazers have swept the weekly league awards.
"I am extremely happy the league recognized Two-Boys and Carl this week," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Both played a big role in our win over Kentucky last week. Two-Boys scored on a world-class type of goal and Carl made six saves in the game, three of which were incredible stops. Both are very deserving of this honor."
Gumede scored the lone goal in UAB's 1-0 road win at No. 13 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. Gumede scored on a shot from 25-yards out, off a cross from Michal Mravec. Gumede collected the ball from Mravec at the corner of the box, firing a long ball over the box and into the net at the near post. Gumede now ranks second on the team with two goals and seven points, and leads the team with three assists on the season. The weekly honor is the second for Gumede in 2009 (Sept. 21) and the second of his career.
Woszczynski continued to shine in the net for the Blazers, making six saves en route to his fourth shutout of the season in UAB's victory over the Wildcats. Woszczynski collected his third shutout over UAB's last four contests and lowered his goals allowed average to 0.68 for the season. The sophomore has collected a league-leading 42 saves so far during the 2009 campaign and also leads C-USA with 4.20 saves per game. He has now allowed just seven goals in the Blazers' 10 contests this year, including only one goal over the last four UAB matches. This is Woszczynski's second consecutive C-USA weekly honor and the third honor of his career.
The Blazers now lead all C-USA teams with five player of the week awards on the year. In addition to Gumede and Woszczynski's two accolades apiece, sophomore Babayele Sodade was tabbed the league's Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8. Furthermore, a UAB player has now earned the weekly award in four of the five weeks the honor has been distributed this season.
Gumede and Woszczynski will lead the Blazers this weekend when they take on C-USA foe Florida International on Saturday at 7 p.m. at West Campus Field. The contest will mark the first home game for UAB in nearly a month.
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.
