The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis (C-USA Quarterfinals)
UAB Soccer Drops Quarterfinal Match To Memphis, 2-1
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2005
DALLAS, Texas - Jason McLaughlin scored for UAB, but Memphis used a Blazer own goal with just nine minutes to play in the first round of the 2005 Conference USA Tournament Wednesday to upset UAB, 2-1, at SMU's Westcott Field. The Tigers move on to Friday's semifinals while UAB is relegated to hoping for an at-large bid to the 2005 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the contest in the 29th minute when Tripp Harkins drilled a deflected ball past UAB's A.J. Robles. The Tigers maintained the advantage at the break and held a 14-5 shot advantage in the first half. McLaughlin took a Jerson Monteiro centering pass in the 66th minute and headed home the equalizer as the Blazers pulled even at 1-1. The own goal came in the 81st minute.
"The own goal is just one of those things that happens in college soccer," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "I thought we recovered from a scrappy first half where both teams had a few chances. We played very strong in the second half. We had chance after chance, but weren't able to convert. We still had two or three good chances in the final minutes to tie it, but that was the way it went. It's a terrible way to lose a game."
UAB out-shot Memphis in the second half, 10-7, as the Blazers controlled the tempo and possession.
"It's hard to beat a team twice in a season," Getman said. "We have always had hard-fought, intense matches with them. They are a very good team. People might say they were the six seed, but this team won this league last year and returned a lot of those players. Every coach in Conference USA will tell you that from one through eight in this league, this was anybody's tournament to win. Memphis got the breaks today."
McLaughlin's goal was his fifth for the season. With the tally, the senior from Wetumpka pulled into the scoring lead for the Blazers. His five goals and team-leading eight assists give him 18 points for the year. Fellow second team all-conference midfielder Sandy Gbandi has 16 points on the year. Two-time All-American Leandro de Oliveira registered three shots for the Blazers in his third game back from a knee injury.
"Leandro played a splendid game again," Getman said. "His return has re-energized our team. We finished the season strong and have one of the most dynamic players in college soccer on our team. We hope that is attractive to the selection committee as they decide the field for the NCAA Tournament."
The loss does put UAB on the bubble for an at-large bid to the 2005 NCAA Tournament. The Blazers are 10-7-1 overall and finished third in one of the stronger conferences in the country. UAB has also won four of its last six contests and has de Oliveira back and healthy after missing seven games.
The men's soccer NCAA Tournament selection show is slated for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 19 and will air live on Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Midwest and Fox Sports North.
UAB-Memphis Box Score in PDF Format
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