Blazers Return Home to Face Tennessee Tech, Belmont

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women's soccer team makes its return to BBVA Compass Field for the first time in nearly a month on Friday when the Blazers welcome Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. for Youth Soccer Night and Family Weekend.

All children wearing their Youth League Jersey will receive $1 admission and the first 125 UAB students in attendance will receive gold thunder sticks.

The Blazers put the finishing touches on the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m. against Belmont on Military and First Responder Appreciation Day. All military and first responders will receive $3 admission with a valid military badge or identification and a special presentation of the colors by the UAB Army ROTC will take place prior to kickoff. At the conclusion of the match, members of the women's soccer team will sign autographs for fans in attendance.

UAB (4-1-1) turned in another undefeated weekend in its last outing as the Blazers downed Furman 3-2 in double overtime before earning a 1-1 draw at UNC Asheville in double overtime. Rachel Green netted the golden goal to beat the Paladins and sophomore Jamiera Lunsford scored her first career goal Sunday against the Bulldogs.

Kelsey Daugherty made a combined 13 saves last weekend and upped her career total to 195 and in the process moved into fifth place all-time at UAB. The Kennesaw, Ga., native was honored as the Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Week for the second time this season, becoming the only athlete in school history to win the award twice in the same season.

Freshman Betsy Ornelas leads the UAB offense and ranks fourth in the league with eight points on three goals and two assists. Both Green and sophomore Megan Hudgens also have three goals apiece for an offense that has already registered 14 as a team, good for first in Conference USA and 24th in the NCAA.

"It will be great to be back on campus to celebrate with both our team and our entire UAB soccer family," UAB head coach Erica Demers said. "Family weekend has always brought a good turnout, and we are hoping for the same amount of fans joining us this weekend."

Tennessee Tech (3-1-0) enters the weekend having won three straight matches after opening the season with a 1-0 setback at Vanderbilt. The Golden Eagles, however, have scored only three goals this season but have posted shutouts in each of their last three matches.

Forward Kendall Powell leads Tennessee Tech with three points on one goal and one assist, while keeper Kari Naerdemann has surrendered just one goal and owns a 0.25 goals against average.

UAB defeated Tennessee Tech 5-0 in 1996 in the only other meeting between the two schools. The Blazers, who defeated UT Martin 3-1 earlier this season, are 9-1-0 all-time against schools currently in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Belmont (3-2-0) opened the season with three consecutive victories but has dropped its last two matches and was outscored 4-0 during that stretch. The Bruins play host to Illinois-Chicago Friday at 6:30 p.m. before Sunday's clash in Birmingham.

Senior forward Belicia Mendiola paces the Belmont offense with six points on two goals and two assists. The Bruins also feature four others who have scored two goals.

Goalies Abby Hunt and Lily Herman have split time in net and have allowed a combined eight goals. Hunt enters the weekend with a 1.77 goals against average, while Herman boasts a 1.38 goals against average.

"This weekend we play two opponents that are coming in with winning records and have started their seasons off well," Demers said. "Both will play a different style from one another, and we need to prepare our team for that. Tennessee Tech will bring a lot of experience, patience and good ball movement, while Belmont will be a little more direct and attacking-minded."

UAB leads the all-time series with Belmont 1-0-0.

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

Blazers Return Home to Face Tennessee Tech, Belmont

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Players Mentioned

Kelsey Daugherty

Rachel Green

Megan Hudgens

Jamiera Lunsford

Betsy Ornelas

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics