The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hosts Marshall On Senior Day
10/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 19, 2012
Live Stats | Live Video
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB men’s soccer team will host the Marshall Thundering Herd on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at West Campus Field. The Blazers’ senior class of Kofi Gyawu, Mladen Lemez, Reed Matte and Milan Milinkovic will be honored prior to the 2 p.m. CT kickoff.
The Blazers come into Saturday’s match having dropped back-to-back home contests to Kentucky (2-1 on Oct. 13) and Tulsa (2-1 on Oct. 16). Despite the consecutive losses, UAB (7-5-2, 2-3 C-USA) is still one of the top soccer teams in the country, checking in as the No. 6 team in the Midwest Region by the NSCAA and a No. 49 RPI ranking, according to the latest Massey Ratings (10/16).
This year’s seniors have been a big reason why the Blazers are in the running for a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Gyawu, a senior forward, continues to lead the Blazers in goals (5), assists (4), points (14), shots (38) and shots on goal (23). Lemez scored two goals in the final five minutes of play to lift the Blazers past South Carolina, 4-3, on Oct. 10. The central defender is tied with Gyawu for the team lead in goals (5) and tops the squad in game-winning goals (2).
Matte, a senior defender, has contributed a pair of a goals and an assist for five points on the year, while Milinkovic is a solid presence on the Blazers’ back line.
Junior goalkeeper Raphael Ville, who has three shutouts on the year, maintains a 1.16 goals against average. The native of Courbevoie, France has made 52 saves, while allowing 17 goals this season.
The Herd comes into the contest on Saturday sporting a stellar 10-2-1 record overall, which includes a 2-2 mark against league competition. Most recently, Marshall dropped a home contest to Kentucky, 1-0, on Wednesday night.
Senior goalkeeper Daniel Withrow headlines the league’s stingiest defense that allows just 0.37 goals per game and has nine shutouts on the year. The senior preseason all-conference performer ranks either first or second in every goalkeeping category this year.
Offensively, senior Tom Jackson leads the squad in goals (7), assists (3) and points (17), despite missing the Herd’s previous two contests with an injury.
The senior day ceremonies will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to kickoff, so fans are encouraged to arrive early for the game.
