The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer Positional Preview: The Goalies
8/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men’s soccer team returns a familiar face in net for the 2016 campaign while receiving an injection of youth at the back-up positions.
Goalkeepers: Joe Kuzminsky, Kyle Lancaster, Julian Mehl, and James Teal
Four goalies make up the last line of defense for the 2016 squad. Senior Joe Kuzminsky is expected to win the job as starter, but three freshmen – Kyle Lancaster, Julian Mehl, and James Teal – hope to challenge for the position during fall camp.
“Joe has started for us the past three seasons as he enters his final season,” said head coach Mike Getman said. “We certainly know he is ready, not to be just a player, but to be a leader on this team. He has proven he can succeed against some of the best teams in the country, and I am expecting his senior year to be a great season for him.”
Kuzminsky played 13 games in 2015, totaling 49 saves, the sixth-most in Conference USA. He enters the season with 127 career saves, 14 saves away from reaching the top ten in program history. The Denver, Colo., native totaled 1113:01 minutes and led UAB goalkeepers with four wins and one shutout.
Lancaster, Mehl, and Teal are battling for roles behind Kuzminsky. Lancaster returns after redshirting in 2015, while Mehl and Teal are new to the program. Before sitting out last season, Lancaster was a four-year starter at Etowah High School and is a product of the Georgia United Academy.
Mehl joins the Blazers after finishing his prep career at Heinrich-Mann Gymnasium in Cologne, Germany. He was also in FC Koln’s youth program and played for the U19 team. Mehl was a member of the 2014-15 squad that placed second in it league.
Teal comes to UAB from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and stands the tallest among the roster at 6’5”. He garnered All-State honors last season after allowing just .49 goals against per game.
“Julian has played at a very high level, and I think he is ready to compete for the starting job from day one,” Getman said. “And James has been around our team a fair bit because he has been to our camps for a couple of years. He is a big, strong athletic kid with the talent to challenge for playing time right away.”
