The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer Team Ranked In National Polls
9/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- On the strength of an unbeaten start to the season through the first seven games (5-0-2), the UAB men's soccer team has vaulted into the nation's top-25 in each of the four major Division I men's soccer polls. The Blazers, who are in the national rankings for the 16th time in the last 18 seasons, are ranked as high as No. 20 in the nation (Soccer America).
The Blazers also find themselves among the nation's elite in three other polls, ranked No. 23 in the nation by Soccer Times and College Soccer News and are No. 24 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25. Additionally, the Blazers are ranked No. 3 in the Midwest Region by the NSCAA.
"I am pleased to see that people around the country have recognized what our team has done so far this year," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "It's certainly not a goal of ours to be ranked; it is something that happens if you play well and win games, and it's a reflection of the success of the team. But our goal is to be ranked at the end of the year."
At 5-0-2 this season, UAB is off to its second best start in school history, just behind the 2003 squad which started 6-0-2. Additionally, the Blazers are one of just 12 unbeaten teams in Division I men's soccer.
Most recently, the Blazers had to come from behind for overtime wins in back-to-back games to capture the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic and keep the unbeaten streak alive. The Green and Gold defeated then-No. 20 VCU on Friday and Milwaukee on Sunday, both by 2-1 scores.
The Blazers will attempt to keep their unbeaten start to the season going when they travel to the West Coast to compete at the Washington Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., this weekend. UAB will open play on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT against Portland, followed by a matchup with tournament host Washington on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT.
