The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
The Tale of Two Seasons for the UAB Men’s Soccer Team
10/19/2018 1:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM – It was not the start that anyone wanted, much less expected. For the UAB men's soccer team, expectations entering the 2018 season were high as the team returned 19 players, including eight starters, from a season ago.
But the season started 1-5. A tough 2-1 overtime loss at Pacific began the season, but just two nights later, Eder Mora netted the golden goal on a penalty kick in double overtime at Santa Clara which seemed to have gotten the Blazers back on track.
Unfortunately, it did not as UAB would drop its next four matches and sat at 1-5 and 0-2 in Conference USA.
"It was a frustrating period because we were playing well and the guys were working hard, but we could not seem to catch a break," head coach Mike Getman said.
The losses were heartbreaking. Three of the five came in overtime. The loss against Fairleigh Dickinson in the Soccer for a Cure Classic featured a two-hour rain delay, before going into extra time and the Knights to scoring the golden goal in the 102nd minute. The loss at FIU was arguably the toughest as UAB was 23 seconds away from a tie, before the Panthers found the back of the net to hand the Blazers their fourth consecutive loss.
Despite all of the challenges and tough breaks, the team never wavered and kept their belief that they entered the season with.
"What was most gratifying was that the team never quit and never gave up on each other," Getman said. "The players had a player meeting, we had a team meeting with coaches, but it was tough because nothing was broken. If you look at each match one at a time, we out possessed our opponents, we created more chances to score, our keeper was only having to make one or two saves a game. Our defense was playing well. We talked and agreed that nothing was broken, we just needed to keep plugging away."
Plugging away is exactly what the team did. They went unbeaten in their next three games with a pair of ties and a 3-0 win at Lipscomb.
"I do think the Lipscomb game was big for us," Getman said. "We scored early on a set piece that we had put in for that game specifically and then we scored two more good goals against a really good opponent. The guys realized that we are going to score goals and we are going to be ok."
Scoring goals is exactly what the Blazers have done in the "second season". UAB has improved its record 5-6-3, going 4-1-3 over its previous eight games. The Blazers are outscoring opponents, 13-6, during the stretch and lead in almost every statistical category over the strech, including shots, goals per game, shot percentage and shot-on-goal percentage.
The stretch showed the Blazers that they are the team they entered the season thinking they could have been. Following the win at Lipscomb, UAB lost at No. 20 Charlotte 1-0, but returned home to beat New Mexico, 4-0.
Days later, Adam Brooker headed in the game winner in the 87th minute against Appalachian State to give the Blazers their second consecutive victory. UAB returned to the road where the winning continued as it picked up its third-straight win when it defeated Florida Atlantic 2-1 in double overtime.
"I believed that we had a really good team, full of really good players that were working hard. I never lost faith in this team," Getman said. "I thought from day one that this team was capable of winning a conference title and I still believe that."
Unbeaten in its last four matches and currently in fifth place in the C-USA standings, UAB looks to continue that streak when it welcomes Old Dominion to BBVA Compass Field on Sunday. The Monarchs come to Birmingham at the top of the C-USA standings.
"Sunday will be a big test for us and it will show us if we really are capable of winning the conference tournament or not," Getman said.
Regardless of what happens on Sunday or the rest of the season, this season will always be remembered for never quitting. For their belief in each other. For coming together when they needed it the most.
"In all of my time coaching, I cannot remember a year that the results flipped like they have for us without some major personnel change," Getman said. "Maybe this will be a new trend."
Kickoff between the Blazers and Monarchs is slated for 3:30 p.m. The game is the second half of a homecoming doubleheader as the UAB women's soccer team takes on Southern Miss at 1 p.m. One ticket grants admission into both contests.
Fans that attend the UAB football game on Saturday can bring their ticket stub and receive admission into both soccer matches or the UAB volleyball game on Sunday for $1.
Fans can receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball, baseball and softball game for the entire 2018-19 season for just $65 by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MSoc) or on Instagram (UAB_MSoc).
But the season started 1-5. A tough 2-1 overtime loss at Pacific began the season, but just two nights later, Eder Mora netted the golden goal on a penalty kick in double overtime at Santa Clara which seemed to have gotten the Blazers back on track.
Unfortunately, it did not as UAB would drop its next four matches and sat at 1-5 and 0-2 in Conference USA.
"It was a frustrating period because we were playing well and the guys were working hard, but we could not seem to catch a break," head coach Mike Getman said.
The losses were heartbreaking. Three of the five came in overtime. The loss against Fairleigh Dickinson in the Soccer for a Cure Classic featured a two-hour rain delay, before going into extra time and the Knights to scoring the golden goal in the 102nd minute. The loss at FIU was arguably the toughest as UAB was 23 seconds away from a tie, before the Panthers found the back of the net to hand the Blazers their fourth consecutive loss.
Despite all of the challenges and tough breaks, the team never wavered and kept their belief that they entered the season with.
"What was most gratifying was that the team never quit and never gave up on each other," Getman said. "The players had a player meeting, we had a team meeting with coaches, but it was tough because nothing was broken. If you look at each match one at a time, we out possessed our opponents, we created more chances to score, our keeper was only having to make one or two saves a game. Our defense was playing well. We talked and agreed that nothing was broken, we just needed to keep plugging away."
Plugging away is exactly what the team did. They went unbeaten in their next three games with a pair of ties and a 3-0 win at Lipscomb.
"I do think the Lipscomb game was big for us," Getman said. "We scored early on a set piece that we had put in for that game specifically and then we scored two more good goals against a really good opponent. The guys realized that we are going to score goals and we are going to be ok."
Scoring goals is exactly what the Blazers have done in the "second season". UAB has improved its record 5-6-3, going 4-1-3 over its previous eight games. The Blazers are outscoring opponents, 13-6, during the stretch and lead in almost every statistical category over the strech, including shots, goals per game, shot percentage and shot-on-goal percentage.
The stretch showed the Blazers that they are the team they entered the season thinking they could have been. Following the win at Lipscomb, UAB lost at No. 20 Charlotte 1-0, but returned home to beat New Mexico, 4-0.
Days later, Adam Brooker headed in the game winner in the 87th minute against Appalachian State to give the Blazers their second consecutive victory. UAB returned to the road where the winning continued as it picked up its third-straight win when it defeated Florida Atlantic 2-1 in double overtime.
"I believed that we had a really good team, full of really good players that were working hard. I never lost faith in this team," Getman said. "I thought from day one that this team was capable of winning a conference title and I still believe that."
Unbeaten in its last four matches and currently in fifth place in the C-USA standings, UAB looks to continue that streak when it welcomes Old Dominion to BBVA Compass Field on Sunday. The Monarchs come to Birmingham at the top of the C-USA standings.
"Sunday will be a big test for us and it will show us if we really are capable of winning the conference tournament or not," Getman said.
Regardless of what happens on Sunday or the rest of the season, this season will always be remembered for never quitting. For their belief in each other. For coming together when they needed it the most.
"In all of my time coaching, I cannot remember a year that the results flipped like they have for us without some major personnel change," Getman said. "Maybe this will be a new trend."
Kickoff between the Blazers and Monarchs is slated for 3:30 p.m. The game is the second half of a homecoming doubleheader as the UAB women's soccer team takes on Southern Miss at 1 p.m. One ticket grants admission into both contests.
Fans that attend the UAB football game on Saturday can bring their ticket stub and receive admission into both soccer matches or the UAB volleyball game on Sunday for $1.
Fans can receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball, baseball and softball game for the entire 2018-19 season for just $65 by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MSoc) or on Instagram (UAB_MSoc).
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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