The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Five Men's Soccer Players Garner All-Conference Awards
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB senior defender Curtis Ushedo has earned First-Team All-Conference USA recognition, announced the league office on Tuesday. Ushedo was one of five Blazer men's soccer players honored with postseason awards, as voted on by the league's nine head coaches.
In addition to Ushedo's nod, junior forward Babayele Sodade was tabbed as a second-team performer, while senior midfielder Michal Mravec, sophomore forward Kofi Gyawu and junior goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski each were named to the league's third team.
It marks the third-straight year that at least five Blazers have earned all-conference accolades.
Ushedo highlights the group, earning his third all-conference nod during his four-year career. Ushedo was selected as a second-team all-conference performer last season and also was named to the league's all-freshman team in 2007.
The Mississauga, Ontario native started every game and anchored a defensive line that currently ranks second in the league in goals against average (1.03 GAA) and is third in goals allowed (18) and shutouts (5). He has played nearly every minute in the back this season and has also accounted for five points on a pair of goals and an assist.
Sodade earns his second consecutive all-conference second team honor following an outstanding 2010 season. The Windsor, Ontario native leads UAB and ranks 30th in the country with nine goals on the year. He also leads the Blazers in points (20), shots (44) and shots on goal (23).
Mravec is now a three-time all-conference third team honoree following this year's selection. Considered one of the best playmakers on the team, the Zilina, Slovakia native has tallied a pair of assists during the 2010 campaign, despite playing defensive midfield throughout the year.
Meanwhile, both Gyawu and Woszczynski garnered all-conference honors for the second time in their respective careers. Gyawu, who was tabbed all-freshman last season, has had another outstanding year. He currently ranks second on the team in goals (6) and points (13), and is tied for the league lead with four game-winning goals.
Woszczynski, a first-team all-conference honoree a year ago, has played strong in the net for UAB this year, despite battling through several nagging injuries. He enters the 2010 C-USA Championship third in the league in saves per game (3.67), fourth in save percentage (.764) and fifth in GAA (1.16).
Fifth-ranked and top-seeded SMU captured four of the five individual honors. The Mustangs' Arthur Ivo, along with South Carolina's Blake Brettschneider, shared the league's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards. SMU's head coach Tim McClements was named the Coach of the Year, while freshman Juan Castillo as tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Marshall goalkeeper Daniel Withrow was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Blazers are the No. 5 seed in the 2010 Conference USA Championship and will take on Brettschneider and No. 4 seed South Carolina in the tournament's opening contest on Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT. This year's event is set to take place in Memphis, Tenn., at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
