The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer To Host Charlotte Sunday
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 17, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The UAB men’s soccer team will host Charlotte in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament on Sunday at West Campus Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The 49ers advanced to the second round of the tournament after defeating Furman, 3-1, on Thursday night at Transamerica Field in Charlotte, N.C.
The Furman-Charlotte contest was knotted at one heading into intermission, but two second-half goals from TJ Beaulieu and Rex Jennings propelled Charlotte to victory.
UAB earned the No. 11 overall seed in the event, which guaranteed a bye into the second round of the tournament. The Blazers will take on the 49ers for the 24th time in history as Charlotte leads the all-time series 13-9-2.
The Blazers captured the win in the teams’ last meeting in Birmingham (9/10/10). In a 2-1 overtime victory, now-senior Babayele Sodade netted the game-winner on a penalty kick.
UAB enters the NCAA Tournament as one of the hotter teams in college soccer. The Blazers have just one loss over their last 10 games (8-1-1), which came against SMU in the 2011 C-USA Tournament championship game last Sunday, Nov. 13.
First team all-conference performer Sodade leads the way for the Blazers, entering the contest with team highs in goals (13), assists (5), points (31) and shots (50). Sodade, who was the lone Blazer to earn first-team all-conference accolades, also leads the team and Conference USA with eight game-winning goals on the season.
It will be just the third time in program history UAB will host a men's soccer NCAA Tournament game. The only other two occasions came in the 1999 and 2006 events.
Tickets for Sunday's event will be on sale Thursday morning and can be purchased at the UAB Athletic Ticket Office, or by calling 205-975-8221. Tickets will be sold at the front gate on game day, but will be cash-only transactions. Gates for Sunday's contest will open at 5:30 p.m., 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
