The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
No. 29 UAB To Host Mercer In Non-Conference Matchup
10/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 5, 2010
UAB-Mercer Gametracker | Watch UAB-Mercer Game
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 29th-ranked UAB men's soccer team will return to the friendly confines of West Campus Field when it takes on the Mercer Bears in non-conference action. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff Wednesday night.
When the two teams meet on the pitch, it will mark the fourth time this season the Blazers have played a team from the Atlantic Sun Conference. UAB is a perfect 3-0 against A-Sun schools this season (Belmont, Lipscomb and UNF), beating the trio by a combined score of 12-2. In addition to an unblemished record against the A-Sun, the Blazers enter Wednesday's matchup having never lost to Mercer (9-0-2) in 11 previous meetings between the two schools.
The Blazers (6-3) come into the contest as the top offensive team in the country, according to the most updated NCAA statistics released on Tuesday. The Blazers are currently leading the nation in goals scored (26) and goals per game average (2.89).
UAB continues to be paced by preseason all-conference selection Babayele Sodade. The junior forward leads the team and ranks in a tie for 15th in the nation with six goals on the season. Senior Anthony King and sophomore Kofi Gyawu each have recorded five goals, which is tied for 27th-best nationally. Sodade (6g, 1a) and King (5g, 3a) share the team lead with 13 points.
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski owns a goals against average (GAA) of 1.29, giving up 11 goals while also making 32 saves. He ranks third in the league in total saves and saves per game (3.56).
Mercer comes into Wednesday's matchup sporting an overall record of 5-2-1 and has captured wins in three of its last four contests.
The Bears are led by senior Ian Cameron, who boasts team highs in goals (4), assists (2) and points (10). Freshmen Joshua Ball and Ryan King and sophomore Richie Edmondson are all tied for second on the team with five points on two goals and an assist.
Starting goalkeeper Brett Perticek has played and started in seven contests for Mercer this season. He comes into the contest against UAB with a 0.88 GAA and three shutouts on the campaign.
Admission is free to all UAB students with a valid ID. Students and season ticket holders are encouraged to attend a pregame tailgate with free food and drinks beginning approximately 90 minutes prior to the start of the match.
