The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Travel to No. 3 Clemson
8/12/2016 12:00:00β―AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team begins its 2016 slate with an exhibition game Saturday against No. 3 Clemson at 6 p.m. at Riggs Field.
"I think everybody is really excited," said UAB head coach Mike Getman. "50 percent of that reason is because it's our first game of the year and we want to see how that goes. The other 50 percent of that is (Clemson) is the number three team in the nation and we've had a great rivalry with them over the last few years. It's as big a game as a preseason game can be."
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| UAB Blazers | Team | #3 Clemson Tigers |
| 5-11-0 | 2015 Overall Record | 17-3-4 |
| 2-6-0 (C-USA) | Conference Record | 6-1-1 (ACC) |
| 1.50 | Goals Per Game | 2.17 |
| 2.12 | Goals Against Average | 0.92 |
| Rami Dajani (3) | Top Returning Scorer | Austin Burnikel (7) |
LAST SEASON
The Blazers are coming off a 5-11-0 campaign, but four of their final five regular-season losses came by just a goal, including a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 9 Akron. It was only the first losing season under Getman since 2008-09. The following year's team posted a 12-4-2 record.
FAMILIAR FACE IN NET
Senior Joe Kuzminsky returns as the netminder for UAB. Kuzminsky had the sixth-most saves (49) in Conference USA last season and has 127 career saves, 14 saves away from reaching the top 10 in program history.
NEW LOOK UP FRONT
UAB is losing its top two forwards from last season in Freddy Ruiz and Karl Chester. That pairing totaled 10 goals and six assists last season. The Blazers will also have to deal with the loss of defender Ian Svantesson, who led the team in goals with eight. Last season, the team ranked fifth in the conference in goals per game (1.50) and fourth in assists per game (1.50).
Three letterwinners return from last year's squad that should see action up top. That trio, led by senior Rami Dajani, is joined by a youth infusion as five freshmen forwards will be vying for playing time.
"We have 17 freshmen on this team that haven't played in a fall season game," said Getman. "There are going to be a lot of new faces on the field but so far in practice, it has been a really good start for us. I am excited to see these guys play."
SCOUTING CLEMSON
Clemson opens the season as the third-ranked team in the nation in the NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's Preseason Poll after receiving two first-place votes as the top-ranked ACC school. The Tigers, who were last year's national runner-up, trail only defending national champion, Stanford (20), and Akron (2), respectively, in the rankings.
Clemson loses its top two goal-scorers from last year in T.J. Casner (10 goals, 4 assists, 24 points) and Kyle Murphy (8 goals, 4 assists, 20 points). Senior forward Austen Burnikel is the team's top returning scorer after registering seven goals to go along with two assists for 16 points in 2015.
Sophomore Brady Allardice is the only goalie returning who played last season. He sat behind graduate Andrew Tarbell, totaling just five minutes during his freshman campaign.
"More than anything, this is a chance for us to get to know each other as players and as a team," stated Getman. "Every game we play we want to win, so that is the first objective. Second objective is to get a lot of guys some playing time and see how we do. The third piece of it is just getting closer to being the team we want to be for the season."
