The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Soccer Hosts No. 9 Akron Saturday Night
10/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
UAB (3-6-0, 0-2-0 C-USA) vs. No. 9 Akron (6-2-1, 0-0-0 MAC)
Details: Saturday, October 3 | 7 p.m. CT
West Campus Field (2,500) | Birmingham, Ala.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Watch Live | Twitter | UAB Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team is set to face its third-straight top-25 opponent Saturday when the Blazers welcome No. 9 Akron to West Campus Field for a non-conference matchup.
First kick is set for 7 p.m. CT in the first meeting between the two programs in Birmingham. Live stats and video will be available and can be accessed in the links above.
First Kick
- UAB comes off more than a week of rest to take on another top-25 team in No. 9 Akron Saturday night at West Campus Field.
- The Blazers were scheduled to face Georgia State in non-conference action Tuesday night in Atlanta, but the match was cancelled due to heavy rains and unplayable field conditions.
- UAB is coming off two-straight matchups versus top-25 programs. In their last game at West Campus Field, the Blazers hosted No. 5 Coastal Carolina and fell 3-1. UAB has also played No. 18 Louisville, No. 11 Clemson, No. 18 Indiana, No. 5 Notre Dame and most recently No. 16 Old Dominion.
- No. 9 Akron, who rose to national prominence recently winning the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in 2010 and finishing as runners-up in 2009, head into the matchup having never lost to UAB. The matchup will also be the first in Birmingham as the two teams previously faced off in Ohio in 2007 and 2014.
- Four Blazers -- three returners and one newcomer -- have all made their first collegiate starts this season. Sophomore midfielder DeAndre Robinson got the first start of his career in the opener at Memphis and contributed big with a goal and assist. Junior midfielder Aaron Getman-Pickering, along with sophomore defender Chandler Stroupe, both started the match versus No. 5 Coastal Carolina. Newcomer Berry Sonnenschein, a transfer from the Netherlands, has started all nine matches at the back line for the Blazers.
- With his goal versus Coastal Carolina, senior forward Freddy Ruiz now ranks T-7th all-time in UAB career goals with 26, and is just four scores away from the top three.
- Historically UAB has been one of the nation's most disciplined teams, finishing in the top-10 in fair play last season. This year the Blazers have stayed true to that, ranking No. 4 in the NCAA in fouls per game (8.11)
Scouting The Opponent
No. 9 Akron, a program that rose to national prominence after capturing the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, and finishing runners-up in 2009, was picked to win the MAC Championship according to a preseason vote of the league's coaches.
The Zips return nine starters from the 2014 campaign, including a trio of first-team All-MAC performers in Adam Najem, Jake Fenlason and Andrew Souders that helped lead the program to its 29th NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
Like UAB, seven of Akron's 2015 opponents were ranked in the preseason top-25. Thus far, Akron has totaled a 6-2-1 record, including four matchups against top-25 teams. The Zips went on the road at VCU and won that match, 3-2, before topping No. 4 Georgetown (1-0), No. 6 Maryland (3-2) and No. 14 Saint Louis (3-2).
As a team the Zips are averaging 2.00 goals per game, which ranks 23rd in the NCAA. The Zips' defense has given up 15 goals for a 1.67 goals against average. Sam Gainford and Najem have led the way thus far for Akron with five scores each. Fenlason, the returning keeper, has turned away 35 shots for a 1.60 GAA in nine games.
Series History
No. 9 Akron makes the trek to Birmingham for the first time ever in the series' short history, as the Zips lead the Blazers, 2-0. Both previous meetings have come in Akron, the first in the Westfield Cup back in 2007, and again last season midway through the year in non-conference play.
The 2007 matchup ended in a 1-0 loss for UAB, as did the 2014 meeting when the Blazers were ranked No. 21 at the time of the contest. Akron came into the year as one of three 2015 opponents UAB had never beaten (Gardner-Webb and Old Dominion).
Match Promotions
The first 400 fans through the gates Saturday night will receive a free soccer scarf, courtesy of UAB athletics.
Looking Ahead
UAB takes a week off before jumping back into Conference USA play to host No. 14 FIU Oct. 10 at West Campus Field.
Get your men's soccer season tickets today by calling the UAB Athletic Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 (205-975-8221), or by clicking here.
Men's soccer individual season tickets are $30 and single game tickets run $5 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 6-17). All children ages five and under are admitted free to West Campus Field, and UAB students also receive free admission with a valid I.D.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MensSoccer), on Facebook or on Instagram (@UAB_mens_soccer). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
