The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Belmont (Exh.)
UAB Downs Belmont, 3-1
8/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team gave an impressive performance on its way to a 3-1 victory over Belmont in exhibition action on Tuesday night at West Campus Field. Freshman Reed Matte scored the game-winning goal, which marked his second tally in as many games, en route to the Blazers' second consecutive win to start the exhibition season.
"I was pleased with our performance for most of the game," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Defensively, I was disappointed with our effort over the final 15 minutes and I thought we gave up a bad goal. We are going to continue to work hard and get ready for our last exhibition game against Georgia State on Friday night."
The three-goal performance marked the second straight game the UAB offense scored three times. The Blazers defeated Clemson, 3-0, on Aug. 22 and have now outscored their opponents, 6-1, in the two exhibition matches.
Despite all the offense, it was a defender who started things off for UAB, as senior Sibusiso Macwele netted his first goal of the preseason in the 19th minute of action. Macwele received a pass from senior Two-Boys Gumede, gathered the ball and buried a shot from 10-yards out into the left side of the net to stake UAB to a 1-0 lead.
Just 20 minutes later, at the 38:42 mark, Matte was on the receiving end of a corner kick from teammate Kevin Sawchak and buried a point-blank header into the net for a two-goal UAB advantage.
The Blazers would make it a three-goal cushion just 15 minutes into the second half. Sophomore Babayele Sodade stole a back pass and beat the keeper into the right side of the net for his second goal of the preseason to give his team a 3-0 lead.
The Bruins cut the lead to 3-1 when Alex Davis' free kick was deflected off the foot of teammate Will Moorad and into the back of the net.
However, that was all the offense Belmont could muster as the Bruins struggled against the UAB defense all night. The Blazers would outshoot Belmont, 20-3, on the night, including a 4-1 advantage on corner kicks. Sodade led UAB with six shots, while senior John Markey had four shots in the contest.
Despite the good start to the season, Getman feels his team still has work to do heading into the final exhibition game of the season.
"We are where I thought we would be right now," Getman said. "We definitely have to improve defensively and especially on set pieces, but overall I am pleased with the result."
The Blazers will close the exhibition portion of the schedule when they travel to take on Georgia State on Friday at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT).
