The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men’s Soccer Season Preview Part 3: The Midfield
8/8/2018 11:09:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With six days until the UAB men's soccer team begins its season with an exhibition match at Clemson on Aug. 14, we continue our look at the 2018 squad as we highlight the midfeild.
UAB has eight midfielders on the squad as it returns five from a season ago and welcomes three newcomers.
"This has probabaly been the greatest strength of our team for the last few years," head coach Mike Getman said. "For the past two or three seasons we have played great soccer, we have kept possession of the ball really well and that is in large part because of how our midfield has played. The whole group returns so we have a lot of experienced players."
Eder Mora | Redshirt Junior | Dalton, Ga.
Mora started all 16 games a season ago, while firing nine shots off. He collected his first career assist in the Blazers' 2-0 win over Florida Atlantic on October 21. His efforts in the classroom landed him a spot on the Conference USA All-Academic Team as he also was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor and received the league's Academic Medal.
Getman on Mora:
"Eder was a captain last year, he has been here for three years and still has two seasons left because of a medical redshirt. Eder has been the guy that holds everything together in midfield. He is a big, strong, powerful guy, but he is also very skillful and technical. He is a great leader in there so having him in the heart of the midfield gives us a strong base to build from."
DeAndre Robinson | Redshirt Senior | Snellville, Ga.
Robinson missed last season because of a preseason injury. As a junior in 2016 he battled through injury to appear in nine games with three starts. The Snellville, Ga., native tallied three points on the season with a goal against Howard and added an assist against FIU.
Getman on Robinson:
"DeAndre has been a great attacking threat for us, but he has struggled with some health issues. He is healthy and is playing extremely well so having him at full speed gives us an attacking threat out of the midfield that we have missed for the last couple of years. "
Chase Rushing | Junior | River Ridge, La.
Rushing appeared in 15 games last season, making his first career start in the season opener against UNCG on August 25. The Team's Most Improved Player, he recorded his first career assist against Lipscomb on October 24.
Getman on Rushing:
"Chase has played all over the midfield for us the last couple of years being the utility guy who got moved around. He has really established himself as a terrific player who can play an attacking or a defending role. Going into his junior year I expect him to have another great season."
Joseph Buete | Sophomore | Wake Forest, N.C.
Buete appeared in eight games as a freshman in 2017. He tallied his first career goal at Marshall on October 28, while his efforts in the classroom landed him on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Getman on Buete:
"Joseph played a pretty good role for us as a freshman off the bench. Week-by-week he got better and better and settled into what we were doing. I expect him to have a great sophomore campaign because he is a very smart and technical player. He is someone that through the spring became a starter and I think he will be a big part of our midfield this fall."
Kevin Wallace | Redshirt Junior | Fulton, Mo.
Kevin Wallace, son of assistant coach Joel Wallace, appeared in six games. He fired off two shots and his efforts in the classroom placed on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Getman on Wallace:
"Kevin has played every position on the field at some time or another during his career. This season I think he will probably play mostly as an attacking midfielder for us. He is big and strong and is a guy who reads the game well. I expect this fall to be a great year for us and his understanding of all of the different role on our team gives him an ability to help us in a big way."
Brooks Stockley | Redshirt Freshman | Charlotte, N.C.
Stockley redshirted a season ago. Prior to UAB, Stockley played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy and for the US Development Academy.
Getman on Stockley:
"Brooks had a great spring and got a lot of valuable minutes. He adds great quickness and touch to our midfield. I expect him to play a big role for us. His versatility means we can play him anywhere in midfield and perhaps in the back if needed."
DJ Benton | Freshman | Birmingham, Ala.
Benton, a Birmingham native, played in the Houston Dynamo Academy where he served as the team captain and played the most minutes on the team. Benton spent the 2016 season playing for the Atlanta United Academy and the 2015 season with the Region III Olympic Development Academy.
Getman on Benton:
"DJ Is a local guy, but has played the last two years in Houston. He also played one year in Atlanta so he has two years of MLS Academy experience. He is a great athlete, very technical, and just a great teammate to have because everyone enjoys playing with him. I think he will make an immediate impact and he could come in and challenge for a starting spot right away. He is big and extremely athletic so he will fit in with our midfield."
Blake White | Freshman | Atlanta, Ga.
White was a member of the Atlanta United FC team from 2016-18, helping his squad to the 2016 league National Championship.
Getman on White:
"Blake has been the Atlanta United Academy for several years and is a member of the Jamaican U17 National Team. He is lightening quick, super technical and someone who I think will make an impact right away. I see him as an attacking midfielder in our formation and I think he will make an impact from the first day he gets here."
Edgard Gamboa | Freshman | Houston, Texas
Gamboa played club soccer for the Houstonian Futbol Club under former Blazer Jose Rayo. He helped the club to multiple South Texas championships as he had five goals and eight on assists in 18 games in his final season.
Getman on Gamboa:
"Edgard is another freshman, but doesn't play like one. He has experience playing with the Houston Dynamo Academy, but he played a lot with the Houstonian Futbol Club which is a club we have a great pipeline with. I think he fits right along with all of these other guys because he is quick, technical, smart, tough and he really is a complete player. I expect him to challenge for a starting spot from the first day he gets here."
"There is a lot of midfield players that can all play and I expect this position to be a key part of our team," Getman said. "The depth that we have allows us to keep players fresh and to make sure that we keep up our speed of play for the full 90 minutes."
The Blazers open up the exhibition season on Aug. 14, with the home opener set for Aug. 18 against Mercer.
Fans can receive access to every men's soccer, women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball game for the entire 2018-19 season 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).
UAB has eight midfielders on the squad as it returns five from a season ago and welcomes three newcomers.
"This has probabaly been the greatest strength of our team for the last few years," head coach Mike Getman said. "For the past two or three seasons we have played great soccer, we have kept possession of the ball really well and that is in large part because of how our midfield has played. The whole group returns so we have a lot of experienced players."
Eder Mora | Redshirt Junior | Dalton, Ga.
Mora started all 16 games a season ago, while firing nine shots off. He collected his first career assist in the Blazers' 2-0 win over Florida Atlantic on October 21. His efforts in the classroom landed him a spot on the Conference USA All-Academic Team as he also was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor and received the league's Academic Medal.
Getman on Mora:
"Eder was a captain last year, he has been here for three years and still has two seasons left because of a medical redshirt. Eder has been the guy that holds everything together in midfield. He is a big, strong, powerful guy, but he is also very skillful and technical. He is a great leader in there so having him in the heart of the midfield gives us a strong base to build from."
DeAndre Robinson | Redshirt Senior | Snellville, Ga.
Robinson missed last season because of a preseason injury. As a junior in 2016 he battled through injury to appear in nine games with three starts. The Snellville, Ga., native tallied three points on the season with a goal against Howard and added an assist against FIU.
Getman on Robinson:
"DeAndre has been a great attacking threat for us, but he has struggled with some health issues. He is healthy and is playing extremely well so having him at full speed gives us an attacking threat out of the midfield that we have missed for the last couple of years. "
Chase Rushing | Junior | River Ridge, La.
Rushing appeared in 15 games last season, making his first career start in the season opener against UNCG on August 25. The Team's Most Improved Player, he recorded his first career assist against Lipscomb on October 24.
Getman on Rushing:
"Chase has played all over the midfield for us the last couple of years being the utility guy who got moved around. He has really established himself as a terrific player who can play an attacking or a defending role. Going into his junior year I expect him to have another great season."
Joseph Buete | Sophomore | Wake Forest, N.C.
Buete appeared in eight games as a freshman in 2017. He tallied his first career goal at Marshall on October 28, while his efforts in the classroom landed him on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Getman on Buete:
"Joseph played a pretty good role for us as a freshman off the bench. Week-by-week he got better and better and settled into what we were doing. I expect him to have a great sophomore campaign because he is a very smart and technical player. He is someone that through the spring became a starter and I think he will be a big part of our midfield this fall."
Kevin Wallace | Redshirt Junior | Fulton, Mo.
Kevin Wallace, son of assistant coach Joel Wallace, appeared in six games. He fired off two shots and his efforts in the classroom placed on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Getman on Wallace:
"Kevin has played every position on the field at some time or another during his career. This season I think he will probably play mostly as an attacking midfielder for us. He is big and strong and is a guy who reads the game well. I expect this fall to be a great year for us and his understanding of all of the different role on our team gives him an ability to help us in a big way."
Brooks Stockley | Redshirt Freshman | Charlotte, N.C.
Stockley redshirted a season ago. Prior to UAB, Stockley played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy and for the US Development Academy.
Getman on Stockley:
"Brooks had a great spring and got a lot of valuable minutes. He adds great quickness and touch to our midfield. I expect him to play a big role for us. His versatility means we can play him anywhere in midfield and perhaps in the back if needed."
DJ Benton | Freshman | Birmingham, Ala.
Benton, a Birmingham native, played in the Houston Dynamo Academy where he served as the team captain and played the most minutes on the team. Benton spent the 2016 season playing for the Atlanta United Academy and the 2015 season with the Region III Olympic Development Academy.
Getman on Benton:
"DJ Is a local guy, but has played the last two years in Houston. He also played one year in Atlanta so he has two years of MLS Academy experience. He is a great athlete, very technical, and just a great teammate to have because everyone enjoys playing with him. I think he will make an immediate impact and he could come in and challenge for a starting spot right away. He is big and extremely athletic so he will fit in with our midfield."
Blake White | Freshman | Atlanta, Ga.
White was a member of the Atlanta United FC team from 2016-18, helping his squad to the 2016 league National Championship.
Getman on White:
"Blake has been the Atlanta United Academy for several years and is a member of the Jamaican U17 National Team. He is lightening quick, super technical and someone who I think will make an impact right away. I see him as an attacking midfielder in our formation and I think he will make an impact from the first day he gets here."
Edgard Gamboa | Freshman | Houston, Texas
Gamboa played club soccer for the Houstonian Futbol Club under former Blazer Jose Rayo. He helped the club to multiple South Texas championships as he had five goals and eight on assists in 18 games in his final season.
Getman on Gamboa:
"Edgard is another freshman, but doesn't play like one. He has experience playing with the Houston Dynamo Academy, but he played a lot with the Houstonian Futbol Club which is a club we have a great pipeline with. I think he fits right along with all of these other guys because he is quick, technical, smart, tough and he really is a complete player. I expect him to challenge for a starting spot from the first day he gets here."
"There is a lot of midfield players that can all play and I expect this position to be a key part of our team," Getman said. "The depth that we have allows us to keep players fresh and to make sure that we keep up our speed of play for the full 90 minutes."
The Blazers open up the exhibition season on Aug. 14, with the home opener set for Aug. 18 against Mercer.
Fans can receive access to every men's soccer, women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball game for the entire 2018-19 season 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
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/ Men's SoccerThursday, June 11
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