The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Babayele Sodade Tabbed Preseason All-Conference USA
8/10/2011 12:00:00β―AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 10, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Senior forward Babayele Sodade has been selected to the 2011 Preseason All-Conference USA men's soccer team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
This marks the second-straight season Sodade has been named as a preseason all-conference performer. As a team, the Blazers were selected to finish sixth overall in 2011 according to a vote among the league's head coaches.
"This is a great honor for Babayele," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "For him to be recognized two years in a row as one of the top players in the league is a great compliment to him. It is nice to see that his hard work is being rewarded and I certainly expect big things from Babayele this season."
Sodade, who was recently selected by Top Drawer Soccer as the 66th-best senior in the country, earns the honor after a stellar 2010 campaign in which he earned second-team all-region and all-conference honors. He led the team with career-highs of nine goals and 20 points (9g, 2a). Furthermore, he also topped UAB in total shots (44), shots on goal (23) and penalty kick goals (3).
Sodade's numbers not only led the team but also ranked among the league leaders. He finished the 2010 season in the top 10 in the conference in goals per game (4th-0.50), goals (T-5th), points (7th), points per game (8th-1.11) and shots (9th).
Over the past two seasons, Sodade has accounted for 16 goals and 38 points (16g, 6a) which leads all Blazers during that span. It is a big reason why the Windsor, Ontario native was invited to participate in the Canadian Olympic Men's National Team training camp this past summer.
Defending regular-season champion SMU was the top choice in the C-USA team race, receiving five of nine possible first-place votes to edge UCF, which received two first-place tallies. Third and fourth place picks, Tulsa and South Carolina, respectively, each received one first-place vote.
UAB will play a pair of home exhibition games beginning with an Aug. 15 meeting against Belhaven followed by the final exhibition of the year on Aug. 20 against Lipscomb. Both contests will kick off at 7 p.m.
The Blazers will host ACC foe Clemson in the regular-season opener on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. All home contests will be played at West Campus Field. Fans can follow all the Blazers men's soccer action on UABSports.com.
2011 CONFERENCE USA MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM Dylan Asher, Kentucky, D Bradlee Baldez, South Carolina, F Juan Castillo, SMU, F Justin Chavez, Tulsa, D - C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Warren Creavalle, UCF, M Kevan George, UCF, D Anthony Hobbs, FIU, D Arthur Ivo, SMU, M - C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Matt Lodge, Kentucky, M Nik Robson, UCF, F Babayele Sodade, UAB, F Daniel Withrow, Marshall, GK
