The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hosts No. 15 Kentucky
10/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team play host to No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday night. The Wildcats are the defending Conference USA regular season champions. Both teams have played well as of late with each owning a 4-1-1 record of the last six games. UAB is 5-3-3 overall and 1-1-1 in C-USA play while Kentucky is 7-2-2 and 2-1-0 in conference.
"The team is feeling pretty good," said UAB head coach Mike Getman. "We've played well the past few games and are getting healthier so the confidence is pretty high right now."
HOW TO FOLLOW
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| UAB Blazers | Team | Kentucky |
| 5-3-3 | Overall Record | 7-2-2 |
| 1-1-1 (C-USA) | Conference Record | 2-1-0 (C-USA) |
| 5-7-0 | Series Record | 7-5-0 |
| 1.18 | Goals Per Game | 1.36 |
| 0.59 | Goals Against Average | 0.55 |
| Massimo Ferrin (6) | Points Leader | Napo Matsoso (12) |
HOUNDS ON THE HILL
UAB and The Greater Birmingham Humane Society are teaming up for a great cause on Saturday night. All fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the game and pack the stadium as we go out to #BeatTheCats. Additionally, fans will have the option to adopt dogs The GBHS will be bringing for only $25!
LAST TIME OUT
UAB defeated Santa Clara 1-0 this past Tuesday night. The Blazers needed only one goal, coming from the foot of freshman Tarnue Tyler, as they played fantastic defensively to limit the Broncos of scoring chances.
Tyler, who was wearing number 28 instead of his usual number 20, scored in the 30th minute. A free kick from just inside the midfield line by Massimo Ferrin found Mathieu Laurent in the box. Laurent used his head to work the ball over to Tyler where the young striker booted in his second career goal to make it 1-0.
The Blazers nearly scored immediately to open the second half. A long ball by UAB went over the heads of everybody but was misplayed by the goalkeeper and wound up with Andrew Nkpolukwu. The freshman forward was unable to keep his balance and lost control of the ball with defenders bearing down on him.
It was just the second meeting all-time between the two programs. The last game in the Elite Eight in 1999 that saw Santa Clara win 3-2 in overtime.
TYLER DAZZLING
Tarnue Tyler has been sensational in his first season in the Green & Gold. His two goals and 19 shots rank second on the team. The freshman has started all 11 games upfront this season and provides a jolt of athleticism to the line-up. Tyler provided the game-winner against Santa Clara and also scored an early goal in a 2-1 victory against Rhode Island.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
The Wildcats are undefeated across their last five contests with four wins. Kentucky has also scored at least one goal in the last six games with eight goals over that span. UK's only losses this year have come on the road where they sport a 2-2 record.
Napo Matsoso leads the Wildcats and is one of the best players in Conference USA. The senior midfielder garnered Preseason Offensive Player of the Year accolades for C-USA after back-to-back seasons of earning NSCAA All-Region honors. Matsoso has scored four goals and dished out four assists on his way to 12 points this year, the latter ranking tied for 67th in the nation.
"I think we just have to play well in all phases," said Getman on trying to beat Kentucky. "They are a good team, but they are not unbeatable. We've played them a few times in the past and had some great matches. It really comes down to us. If we play, we succeed."
