The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Eastern Illinois
UAB and Eastern Illinois Finish Tied, 2-2
10/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's soccer team and Eastern Illinois played to a 2-2 tie in non-conference action Wednesday night at West Campus Field. The Blazers move to 5-4-1 overall, including a 5-2-1 record over their last eight contests, while the Panthers are now 7-2-2 on the campaign.
"Eastern Illinois is a very good team and one of the best teams we have played all season," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "I feel we played pretty well throughout the night. We created a bunch of scoring chances in regulation and in overtime, but just couldn't get the game-winner. The only mistake we made was giving up their second goal, but besides that, I am pleased with our performance this evening."
Junior midfielder Carlo Schiavoni led UAB with two assists on the evening, while the Blazers outshot the Panthers by a count of 15-12, including 6-2 in the overtime periods. The Panthers were led by Mick Galeski's two goal on the night.
UAB and EIU, who are ranked seventh and eighth in the Midwest Region respectively, battled like two of the top teams in the region during the back and forth affair.
The Blazers opened the scoring with the lone goal of the first half when junior Dejan Jakovic scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season at the 9:54 mark. Jakovic, who was tabbed to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List prior to the start of the season, received a pass from Schiavoni off a free kick and drilled a header that hit the right-side netting, giving UAB the one-goal cushion.
The Blazers held the lead throughout the rest of the first half, but gave up the equalizer only 1:11 into the second half. After receiving a pass from teammate Alex Harrison, Galeski took one touch and drilled a 23-yard shot into the back of the net to even things at 1-1.
The score would remain the same until the 74:59 mark when UAB's Sibusiso Macwele would give his team back the lead. Macwele received a pass from Schiavoni off a free kick, beat his defender and hit a shot into the lower left net from a near impossible angle, which beat EIU's Nick Alexander.
However, the Panthers would again respond almost five minutes later, at the 79:46 mark, when Galeski scored his second goal of the night, this time off a header from Adam Gartner. Eastern Illinois earned a free kick on the far right side of the field and Gartner's pass was delivered perfectly on the head of Galeski, who one-timed it pass UAB's Wes Johnson.
The Blazers held the possession for a majority of the overtimes, and had several opportunities to win the game, but could not finish. Jakovic and junior midfielder Bobby Chanthongphio led the Blazers with a game-high four shots on the night.
UAB will return to conference action when it travels to Lexington, Ky. to take on the Wildcats of Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. ET. It is an important league contest for the Blazers, and Getman knows his team has to be rested and well-prepared in order to pull out a road conference victory.
"Kentucky is always a dangerous team," Getman said. "They have played a tough schedule and will present a challenge for us. Our guys have to come to play and be well prepared in order for us to pull out a win."
