The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Set to Host 'Soccer for a Cure' Classic
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
UAB (1-3-0) vs. UIC (1-1-1)
Details: Friday, September 11 | 7:30 p.m. CT
West Campus Field (2,500) | Birmingham, Ala.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Watch Live | Twitter | UAB Notes
UAB (1-3-0) vs. Gardner-Webb (1-2-0)
Details: Sunday, September 13 | 2:30 p.m. CT
West Campus Field (2,500) | Birmingham, Ala.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Watch Live | Twitter | UAB Notes
Tournament Central
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's men's soccer team hosts its annual "Soccer for a Cure" Classic this weekend at West Campus Field. UIC, Gardner-Webb and Georgia State will join the Blazers as the participating teams in the tournament.
Georgia State and Gardner-Webb will get things started Friday at 3 p.m., and the UAB women's soccer team will play a single match versus Louisville at 5:30 p.m. Following the women's match, the UAB men face UIC at 7:30 p.m. in the nightcap.
The tournament closes Sunday with Georgia State meeting UIC at noon, and UAB playing host to Gardner-Webb at 2:30 p.m.
This year's event marks the 18th year of the tournament, and eighth year with the name "Soccer for a Cure." The Blazers captured the tournament title in 2014 for the 10th time in event history, and have won it four of the last five seasons.
Live video will be available for UAB matches only and live stats will be available through GameTracker for all five matches. For links to all video and live stats, refer to the links above or visit the tournament central page.
First Kick
- UAB returns home to Birmingham for four-straight matches beginning with the UAB "Soccer for a Cure" Classic this weekend at West Campus Field.
- This year's field features UIC (Horizon League), Gardner-Webb (Big South) and Georgia State (Sun Belt). The Blazers face the Flames Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and close the tournament Sunday vs. Gardner-Webb at 2:30 p.m.
- UAB is coming off tournament play at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament, where the Green and Gold dropped two matches to top-25 opponents, No. 18 Indiana (2-1) and No. 5 Notre Dame (4-0).
- The last two matchups versus this weekend's opponents -- UIC and Gardner-Webb -- both ended in 1-1 draws in regulation. Gardner-Webb faced the Blazers in the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham in 2006, and advanced in tournament play after a penalty kick victory. UAB's last meeting versus UIC came in 2011 in the second game of the season.
- Junior goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky has been busy thus far in the season, and played particularly well in terms of saves. He's averaging 5.50 saves per game, which is 22nd nationally and second in all of Conference USA. His 22 total saves also ranks fourth in the NCAA and first in the league.
- Still early in the campaign, senior forward Freddy Ruiz has made his presence known on the frontline, ranking 19th in the NCAA in shots per game (4.00) despite not scoring a goal through four matches.
- This year's event marks the 18th year of the tournament, and eighth year with the name "Soccer for a Cure." The Blazers captured the tournament title in 2014 for the 10th time in event history, and have won it four of the last five seasons. Overall, the Blazers have won Classic titles in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
- As part of the "Soccer for a Cure" weekend, select players from the competing teams will visit Children's Hospital on Saturday. Raffles towards two $100 gift cards to Eurosport will be available to fans, and all money raised will directly benefit Children's of Alabama and other local children, with all funds staying local in Birmingham.
Scouting The Opponent
UIC returns 17 total letterwinners from its 2014 squad, welcoming in eight newcomers this season. The Flames went 7-8-2 in 2014 and 3-4-1 in Horizon League Play.
Thus far in the 2015 campaign, UIC is 1-1-1 with the lone win coming against Bradley in the season opener. The Flames dropped a road match to SMU, 2-1, and tied Butler, 1-1, last weekend. Jorge Alvarez, Max Todd, Manny Chavez and Marco Alvarez all have one goal each this season. Goalkeeper Andrew Putna has played all matches in goal and allowed three goals with 12 saves.
Gardner-Webb heads into 2015 with 13 newcomers on its squad. The Runnin' Bulldogs totaled a 3-13-1 record last year and went 1-7-1 in Big South Conference play.
Gardner-Webb has a 1-2 record early in 2015 with a 7-2 win over Laurel University. GWU dropped matches to Wofford, 3-0, and Charlotte, 4-0. Fillipe Conceicao, Sami Jilla and Hunter Frey have each scored twice, a squad that allows three goals per game.
Series History
UAB and UIC have met three times entering the weekend, with the matchups all coming within the last seven years. The two squads last met in 2011, tying 1-1 in double overtime. The two prior meetings, the Flames were a top-25 team as the Blazers fell, 1-0, in the first meeting in 2008, before knocking off UIC, 3-1, in 2009. The Flames were ranked 10th nationally in 2009, and 16th nationally in 2008.
UAB's last meeting versus Gardner-Webb was in the NCAA Tournament in the 2006 campaign, when the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Blazers in penalty kicks. The two squads played to a 1-1 draw in double overtime before going to PKs.
Game Promotions
As part of the UAB "Soccer for a Cure" Classic, fans will have the chance to win two $100 gift cards to Eurosport through a raffle drawing.
Donations will also be accepted and all money collected will go directly to Children's Hospital of Alabama.
What is "Soccer for a Cure"
"Soccer for a Cure" is a non-profit organization. Its purpose is to serve as a place where all levels of the soccer nation (youth, club, high school, college, adult, and professional) can stand together as a team to help families fight the battle against all types of cancer.
Why Was It Started?
It was started in January, 2008 by Charlie Corbitt, a cancer survivor and warrior advocate for others affected with cancer. He has been involved in college and high school soccer since 1993. His hope is that the soccer nation will one day stand together hand in hand as one and become proactive in the fight against cancer.
Looking Ahead
UAB continues its four-game home stand next weekend versus South Carolina to open up C-USA play. The Blazers and Gamecocks square off next Friday night at 7 p.m. at West Campus Field.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MensSoccer). 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).
