The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UNC Wilmington (Exh.)
UAB Downs No. 24 UNC Wilmington, 3-0
8/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men's soccer team closed the exhibition season in grand fashion, defeating No. 24 UNC Wilmington, 3-0, on Saturday night at West Campus Field. With the victory, the Blazers finished the preseason with an unbeaten record of 2-0-1.
"When you beat a top-25 team, you have to be happy with the result," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "We didn't give up a goal and I thought our defensive effort was solid all night against a talented UNC Wilmington team. This was our best performance of the preseason and I am happy where we are right now."
Three different Blazers found the back of the net on the night, as junior midfielder Chris Williams, junior forward Babayele Sodade and freshman forward Norris Howze each scored a goal in the winning effort.
Williams opened the scoring as he recorded his second goal of the preseason, and first game-winner, when he found the back of the net just before the halftime whistle at the 39:26 mark. That's when defender Reed Matte lofted a long ball into the 18-yard box, which found the head of Williams. Williams beat his defender to the ball and sent a header that lofted over UNC Wilmington goalie Brandon Miller and into the right corner of the net for a one-goal halftime lead.
UAB made it 2-0 just 10 minutes into the second half when Sodade, a preseason all-conference honoree, recorded his first goal of the preseason. Sodade's goal came at the 54:51 mark when he received a headed pass from forward Kofi Gyawu and drilled a shot into the far side of the net for a two-goal cushion.
Howze would cap the scoring when freshman Patrick Wall drew a penalty kick at the 88:25 mark. Howze collected his second goal of the preseason as he deposited the PK into the lower left corner to result in the final score.
Junior goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski was brilliant in the net for UAB, making six saves on the night, including three that were at point-blank range as time wound down. UNC Wilmington goalies Brandon Miller and Brock Duckworth combined for three saves.
Both Williams and Gyawu led the Blazers with five points on two goals and an assist in their three exhibition contests. Meanwhile, Howze also had two goals and Sodade finished the preseason with a goal and an assist. Sophomore Reed Matte led the team with two assists.
"I feel we are ready for the season to start," Getman said. "We are healthy, we put in a lot of work, we're fit and we're playing sharp. We're excited to get things going."
UAB will open the 2010 regular season at defending national champion Virginia on Friday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) in the opening round of the Virginia Classic. It marks the first time in school history the Blazers have played a defending national champion during the regular season. The Green and Gold will also play Virginia Tech in the weekend event, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 5, at Noon ET (11 a.m. CT).
