The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Picked to Finish Sixth in C-USA Preseason Poll
8/7/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 7, 2013
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men’s soccer team was selected to finish in sixth this season in the 2013 Preseason Conference USA Men’s Soccer Poll, the conference announced on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Rising junior Darion Copeland was selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team, as well.
The Blazers were selected to finish in sixth in the 10-team league after earning 55 points in the preseason poll voted on by the C-USA head coaches. Only one point ahead was Kentucky with Old Dominion was six points in front of UAB, illustrating the competitive conference the Green and Gold call home. In addition, UAB was one of five teams to receive a first place vote.
Tulsa was named the preseason favorite after receiving 92 points and three first place votes. New Mexico was two points behind, but did earn one more first place nomination. The 2011 national runner-up Charlotte rounded out the top three.
Copeland, the Blazers’ anchor on defense, earned his first Preseason All-C-USA Team accolade. The rising junior earned all-conference honors in 2012 and was named to the league’s all-freshman squad in 2011. Last season, the Stockbridge, Ga. native started every match for UAB, scoring two goals on the year.
The Blazers are only a few weeks away from opening their 2013 campaign. UAB will begin its season in Richmond, Va. at the VCU Classic from Friday, Aug. 30 – Sunday, Sept. 1. The team will play VCU in its first match of the tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
2013 Preseason Conference USA Men's Soccer Poll
|
|
Team (1st Place) |
Points |
|
1. |
Tulsa (3) |
92 |
|
2. |
New Mexico (4) |
90 |
|
3. |
Charlotte (1) |
82 |
|
4. |
Old Dominion |
61 |
|
5. |
Kentucky |
56 |
|
6. |
UAB (1) |
55 |
|
7. |
South Carolina |
44 |
|
8. |
FIU (1) |
37 |
|
9. |
Marshall |
23 |
|
10. |
Florida Atlantic |
10 |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Cristian Mata, F, Tulsa
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kyle Venter, D, New Mexico
2013 Preseason All-Conference USA Men's Soccer Team
Thomas Allen, D, Charlotte
Michael Calderon, M, New Mexico
Darion Copeland, D, UAB
Giuseppe Gentile, F, Charlotte
Tyler Gibson, M, Charlotte
Tim Hopkinson, F, Old Dominion
Cristian Mata, F, Tulsa
Omar Mata, M, Tulsa
Steven Perinovic, D, Kentucky
Braeden Troyer, M, South Carolina
Kyle Venter, D, New Mexico
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For men's soccer news, follow @UAB_MensSoccer.
