The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Mercer
Mercer Stuns No. 29 UAB, 1-0
10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 6, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Mercer's Ian Cameron converted a penalty kick with just under 16 minutes left in regulation to lift the Bears to a 1-0 upset win over No. 29 UAB on Wednesday night at West Campus Field. The loss marks the first time the Blazers (6-4) dropped a contest to an unranked team this year.
"This is a very disappointing defeat," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "We gave up a goal we shouldn't of given up and defensive mistakes can beat you. We have now lost three of our last four games and we lost all of those games on defensive mistakes. We have got to stop making mistakes in the back if we're going to beat good teams."
The Blazers played without a pair of starters in midfielder Michal Mravec and forward Anthony King, who is tied for the team lead in points (13) on five goals and three assists this season.
"We did miss those guys but that is not why we lost tonight," Getman said. "Over the course of a season, you are going to deal with some injury issues and if we're going to be a top team, we have got to be able to get the job done. Anthony and Michal have started every game for us, but they weren't healthy tonight."
The game was close throughout, with both teams having scoring opportunities. UAB dominated the opening 45 minutes, spending a majority of the half in Mercer's defensive third of the field. However, despite outshooting the Bears 5-3 in the half, the Blazers could not find the back of the net.
Mercer (6-2-1) picked up the pressure after the intermission and had several scoring opportunities. Cameron almost put the Bears on the board in the 65th minute when he hit a shot that beat UAB goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski, but the ball deflected off the far post and was cleared away.
Mercer's Joey Heavner drew the foul that led to Cameron's penalty kick at the 74:20 mark. Heavner took the ball down the far sideline and was tripped up by a Blazer defender just as he crossed into the box. Cameron converted the penalty kick, marking his team-best fifth goal of the season.
The Blazers best chances to score came after the PK, but goalkeeper Dan VanValkinburgh stymied the Blazers' offense, which entered the match ranked as the nation's top scoring attack with 24 goals on the year (2.89 goals per game).
It was the Bears' first win over the Blazers in 12 contests played between the two teams (1-9-2).
UAB will try and regroup this weekend when it plays host to the Kentucky Wildcats in a Conference USA contest.
"You can't have a much bigger game than this Saturday," Getman said. "We're 0-2 in conference so this will be an important game for many different reasons. Kentucky is a strong, physical team and I certainly expect a tough battle. We are just going to have to be prepared and be ready to play."
The Blazers and Wildcats kickoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at West Campus Field. Admission is free to all UAB students with a valid ID. Students and season ticket holders are encouraged to attend a pregame tailgate with free food and drinks beginning approximately 90 minutes prior to the start of the match.
