The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Welcomes Memphis, Xavier to Kickoff Season
8/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB men's soccer team begins its 2016 campaign with a weekend doubleheader against Memphis on Friday, August 26, and Xavier on Sunday, August 28. The game with the Tigers is slated to begin at 7 p.m. while the Blazers and Musketeers are set to play at 6 p.m.
"It has been a really good week of practice," said UAB head coach Mike Getman. "I have been very pleased with how the team has been focused on doing what we need to do. We are feeling like we are ready for Friday's match.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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| Team | UAB Blazers | Memphis | Xavier |
| 2015 Overall Record | 5-11-0 | 3-10-4 | 12-6-1 |
| Conference Record | 2-6-0 (C-USA) | 1-4-3 (AAC) | 5-3-1 (Big East) |
| Goals Per Game | 1.50 | 0.76 | 1.53 |
| Goals Against Average | 2.12 | 1.88 | 0.89 |
| Top Returning Scorer | Rami Dajani (3) | Raul Gonzalez (7) | Matt Vasquenza (5) |
YOUTH MOVEMENT
UAB lost its top three scorers from last year to graduation including Freddy Ruiz, who ranks tied for fourth all-time in school history for goals (29) and eighth in points (66). The Blazers welcome 11 new faces to the team and have a roster that consists of 17 freshmen or redshirt freshmen. During the preseason, freshmen accounted for four of the team's six goals, including Massimo Ferrin scoring two goals and adding one assist.
CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND'S
UAB head coach Mike Getman announced the Blazers captain for the 2016 season are sophomore defender Mathieu Laurent and senior goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky. Their peers chose the two players after a vote.
Laurent, who sat out last season with a medical redshirt, was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman Team in 2014. The Canadian played in all 20 games for the Blazers including 17 starts on the UAB backline.
Kuzminsky receives the honor after starting 33 of a possible 38 games across the last years. Both players have been apart of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll each of the last two seasons.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
Memphis finished last in the AAC last season after going 1-4-3 in conference and 3-10-4 overall. The Tigers return an experienced bunch including leader goal-scorer Raul Gonzalez (seven goals) and goalkeeper Jake Leeker. They were 1-0-1 in the preseason with a 1-1 draw against Louisville and 5-0 victory over Union.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier was picked to finish fourth in the Big East after a 12-6-1 finish last year. The Musketeers lose Big East Goalkeeper of the Year Dallas Jaye as well as their leading scorer from last season, Alex Ridsdale (eight goals), but do return 52 percent of their goal scoring from last season. Xavier finished 1-1-0 in the preseason, including a 3-1 loss to No. 4 Maryland to conclude its exhibition slate.
"There are a lot of young players on this team," said Getman. "But they are all soccer players. They have been with us for a few weeks now and we view them as just soccer players. I think they fit right in and nobody looks at them as the ‘new guys.' Their just part of the team. I think they are all very capable and fit right in with the rest of the group."
