The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Conclude Regular Season at FIU
11/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team has enjoyed a week-and-a-half long hiatus and now returns to play for its final regular season contest at FIU on Saturday night. The Blazers sport a 6-7-3 record and 2-4-1 in conference while FIU is 7-6-2 and 4-2-1 in conference.
Both teams have already guaranteed a spot in the Conference USA Tournament, but Saturday's battle could be key for seeding. The game is the regular season finale for the conference and UAB is currently sixth in the league. A win would lock the Blazers into that sixth slot but an Old Dominion win over New Mexico on Friday night and a tie or loss for the Green & Gold would bump them down to seventh. For FIU, it is still in the hunt for the number two seed, which could set-up a first round rematch between these two teams.
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| UAB Blazers | Team | FIU |
| 6-7-3 | Overall Record | 7-6-1 |
| 2-4-1 | Conference USA Record | 4-2-1 |
| 8-4-1 | Series Record | 4-8-1 |
| 0.94 | Goals Per Game | 1.40 |
| 1.00 | Goals Against Average | 1.34 |
| Two tied with seven | Points Leader | Santiago Patino (14) |
NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE
Senior goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky has remained stellar in net throughout the year. He ranks in the top 50 in the nation in multiple statistics including, 22nd in save percentage (0.823), 38th in total saves (65), and 47th in goals against average (0.848). The total save mark ranks him atop Conference USA and is second in the conference in save percentage.
Kuzmsinky has five shutouts this season which ranks tied for seventh in school history for a single season. The Denver, Colo., native has 182 career saves, good for seventh in school history, and is two shutouts and one win from the top five all-time.
LAST TIME OUT
The UAB men's soccer team lost despite a well-played game on Wednesday night. The Blazers posted 14 shots and six saves but fell 1-0 to Conference USA foe New Mexico. Before the match, UAB honored Joe Kuzminsky, James Ngoe, Henrique Sposito, William White, and Lars Willemse for Senior Night. All five players started in the contest.
The Blazers came firing out of the gates with nine first half shots. The biggest opportunity came in the 25th minute when a ripper from Massimo Ferrin outside the box required a save and Philip Makinde's shot off the rebound was blocked.
UAB nearly got on the scoreboard first in the 67th minute. Tarnue Tyler did a great job to create an open chance with after sliding the ball past a defender on a move but the Lobos goalkeeper got a foot to the ball to stop the shot from hitting the net. New Mexico struck shortly after that. The Lobos counter attack game pushed the ball up field quickly in the 75th minute and Devin Boyce let a shot rip from over 30 yards away from the net and tucked it into the left post for the lone goal of the contest.
SCOUTING FIU
The Panthers have won four straight games and have outscored teams 9-2 over that stretch. FIU is a physical team that ranks first in Conference USA in yellow cards (36), red cards (two), and second in fouls (208).
Santiago Patino leads FIU in scoring with seven goals. However, he has not scored in the last seven games as the Panthers have spread the wealth around during their recent stretch of success. Six different players have scored their last nine goals.
