Blazers Begin Conference USA Play Friday at UTEP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women's soccer team puts its five-match unbeaten streak on the line and opens Conference USA play Friday at 8 p.m. CT when the Blazers travel to El Paso, Texas, to face UTEP at University Field.

UAB (6-1-2, 0-0-0) enters the weekend coming off a 3-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State in its most recent match. The Blazers received goals from Amy Brewer, Rachel Green and Morgan-Key Adams en route to their fourth shutout of the season.

Junior keeper Kelsey Daugherty made five saves and moved into fifth place all-time at UAB with seven career shutouts. The Kennesaw, Ga., native needs one more blanking to jump into a tie for fourth place.

Forward Megan Hudgens continues to pace the UAB offense and leads the Blazers in points (11), goals (5), shots (20) and shots on goals (12). Hudgens has scored at least one goal in three of her last five games and is tied for fourth in goals in Conference USA.

"We are looking forward to the start of Conference USA play and the tests the come along with it," UAB head coach Erica Demers said. "I firmly believe that league play adds a higher level of engagement, discipline and heart. Our players have trained very well all week and are prepared."

UTEP (5-5-0, 1-0-0) opened its season with five consecutive losses before answering with five straight victories, culminating with a 1-0 victory at Southern Miss on Sunday in its first game of league play.

The Miner defense has only allowed two goals during its win streak and is averaging 3.2 goals per game during that stretch.

Freshman Vic Bohdan leads the UTEP offense with 12 points on four goals and four assists, while fellow freshman Anna Jimmerson stands first on the team and is tied for fourth in the league with five goals.

Keeper Alyssa Palacios has allowed 11 goals this season but has made a league-high 60 saves and owns a 1.06 goals against average.

UAB and UTEP will meet on the pitch for the 13th time in school history when the two teams battle on Friday. The Miners own a 5-4-3 lead in the all-time series that began during the 2000 season. Despite UTEP holding a lead in the series, UAB is unbeaten against the Miners in the last three meetings, which included a 1-0 win in double overtime last season in Birmingham.

For more information on UAB women's soccer, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WSOC), Instagram (@UAB_WSOC) and Snapchat (@UABAthletics).

Blazers Begin Conference USA Play Friday at UTEP

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Players Mentioned

Amy Brewer

Kelsey Daugherty

Rachel Green

Megan Hudgens

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics