The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer Hosts SMU In Important League Match
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team returns to action on Wednesday night when it battles Conference USA rival SMU. The Blazers and Mustangs, who have played each other to a 2-2-1 record in five all-time meetings, will square off on the pitch at West Campus Field at 7 p.m. CT.
The Mustangs enter the contest sporting a 7-4-2 overall record, but are 0-3-1 in league play, and have just one victory in their last five contests. As a result, SMU, who has been ranked the entire season and as high as No. 6 in the country earlier this season, dropped out of the nation's top-25 rankings for the first time all year.
The Mustangs are led by senior forward Paulo da Silva, who leads the squad with five goals and 12 points on the season. Junior forward Dane Saintus ranks second on the team with eight points (3g, 2a), while senior forward Manuel Mariel and freshman midfielder Diogo de Almeida each have three goals on the year. Senior midfielder Gabe Arrendondo leads the team with five assists.
Defensively, SMU junior goalkeeper Craig Hill has started all 13 contests and owns a 0.97 goals allowed average. He has made 43 saves and recorded four shutouts on his way to a 6-3-2 record this season.
UAB will enter Wednesday's contest sporting a 4-7-2 overall mark and are 1-3 in conference play. The Blazers are coming off a tough overtime 2-1 loss to Kentucky last Saturday night. The setback marked the seventh one-goal loss of the season, with five of them coming in the final minutes or in overtime.
UAB is led on the year by senior forward Derek Rios and junior midfielder Two-Boys Gumede. Both players have accounted for team highs of three goals and eight points on the campaign. Forwards Shane Elsner and Kevin Sawchak, midfielder Michal Mravec and defender Curtis Ushedo each have found the back of the net twice this season. Senior midfielder Carlo Schiavoni leads the team with three assists on the campaign.
Junior goalkeeper Wes Johnson has started nine games for the Blazers in the net. He will come into the contest with a 1.00 GAA and 30 saves on the season.
The match is free to UAB students who have a valid student ID. Additionally, students and UAB men's soccer season ticket holders are encouraged to come and enjoy free food and drinks at a pregame tailgate that will begin 90 minutes before the game (5:30 p.m. CT).
