The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Mobile
UAB Defeats Mobile, 3-1, in Exhibition Opener
8/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 17, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB men's soccer team opened the preseason in grand fashion on Thursday night, defeating the Mobile Rams, 3-1, at West Campus Field. The Blazers collected goals from Preseason All-Conference USA forward Jerson Monteiro and freshman forward Drew Knaub, to go along with an own goal by Mobile to result in the final score.
Mobile began the scoring in the opening minutes of the game when Edgar Morales' corner kick found the head of Lance Nelson, who was then able to pound the header in the back of the net for the early one-goal lead.
The Blazers responded minutes later, as their pressure was rewarded with an own goal by Mobile. Senior midfielder Lukasz Kwapisz sent a low cross which was deflected into the back of the net by a Ram defender, evening the score at 1-1 just seven minutes into the contest.
UAB took the lead for good in the 30th minute. After a hand ball on the right side of the field, senior Derick Radcliffe took the direct kick, which found Monteiro's head. Monteiro was then able to beat the Mobile keeper from six-yards out, giving the Blazers a 2-1 advantage.
The Blazers capped the scoring in the 84th minute when Knaub received a pass from Derek Rios and took it towards goal, beating the Mobile keeper from 12-yards away for the insurmountable two-goal lead.
UAB head coach Mike Getman was not overly pleased with his team's performance and concedes there is work left to do; however, he feels his team took a positive step in Thursday night's game.
"This was our first game and our first chance to play against competition other than ourselves," Getman said. "I think we were tired from the preseason and that showed a little bit. I thought both our keepers played solid, but the team as a whole was average. It was a good training session for us and showed what areas we still need to work on."
UAB will conclude its exhibition slate when it takes on the University of Louisville on Saturday, Aug. 19, at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. The Blazers open the regular season on Aug. 25 when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on No. 15 Notre Dame, before battling No. 12 Indiana on Aug. 27 at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament.
