The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Set to Host South Carolina, No. 5 Coastal Carolina
9/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
UAB (3-3-0) vs. South Carolina (2-2-1)
Details: Friday, September 18 | 7 p.m. CT
West Campus Field (2,500) | Birmingham, Ala.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Watch Live | Twitter | UAB Notes
UAB (3-3-0) vs. No. 5 Coastal Carolina (4-0-1)
Details: Monday, September 21 | 7 p.m. CT
West Campus Field (2,500) | Birmingham, Ala.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Watch Live | Twitter | UAB Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's men's soccer team opens its 21st season of Conference USA play Friday versus South Carolina, and closes the home stand Monday versus No. 5 Coastal Carolina at West Campus Field.
The Blazers and Gamecocks are set to kick at 7 p.m. Friday night in the 18th meeting between the two schools. The Green and Gold and No. 5 Coastal Carolina are also slated for a 7 p.m. kick Monday night in the fourth meeting all-time.
Live stats will be available and can be accessed in the links above or on the men's soccer schedule page. Live streaming through UAB All-Access will also be available for both matches, and can be accessed in the links above or at the men's soccer schedule page.
First Kick
- The Blazers enter their 21st season of C-USA play Friday, hosting the Gamecocks at 7 p.m. Through 20 years of competition in the now 9-team soccer league, UAB has amassed a record of 97-57-14 (.619).
- UAB is coming off two-straight wins at home, capturing the UAB "Soccer for a Cure" Classic team title for the 11th time overall last weekend at West Campus Field. The Blazers defeated UIC and Gardner-Webb, 3-1, winning the tournament for the second consecutive year and fifth time in the last six seasons.
- Monday's matchup vs. Coastal Carolina marks the fifth top-25 team UAB will face this season. The Blazers opened vs. No. 18 Louisville and No. 11 Clemson, and faced tough competition in Notre Dame's home tournament vs. No. 18 Indiana and No. 5 Notre Dame. As of the Sept. 15 NSCAA Top-25 poll, eight of UAB's 2015 opponents (No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 5 Coastal Carolina, No. 11 Akron, No. 12 Old Dominion, No. 14 Clemson, No. 17 New Mexico, No. 19 Louisville, No. 22 Indiana) were ranked in the top-25 and three (FIU, Kentucky, Charlotte) were receiving votes.
- Through six regular season matches, eight different Blazers have in some way factored into scoring. Junior forward Rami Dajani's three goals lead the way, while Karl Chester is tied with Dajani for the points lead (6). DeAndre Robinson has five points on the year (1 goal, 3 assists), while Ian Svantesson (2 goals) and Freddy Ruiz (1 goal, 2 assists) have four points each. Newcomers Berry Sonnenschein (3 assists) and Ryan Sullivan (1 goal) have also played a part in the UAB offense, with three and two points, respectively. James Ngoe has one assist for one point.
- South Carolina leads UAB in the all-time series, 11-5-1, with a 5-1 advantage in games played all-time in Birmingham. The Blazers' lone win vs. the Gamecocks in the Magic City came in the 2009 season, a 3-0 victory.
- Coastal Carolina enters Monday's matchup having never defeated UAB, with a 3-0 lead in the series. The two teams first met in Birmingham in the 2000 season, and have since met twice in Conway, S.C.
Scouting The Opponent
South Carolina enters C-USA play after being picked to finish seventh of the nine teams in the league. The Gamecocks are in their 38th season under legendary head coach Mark Berson. In 2014, USC finished with a 10-10 overall record, including a 3-5 mark in league play.
In 2015, the Gamecocks are 2-2-1, with the last win coming in the month of August. USC opened the year at 2-0 after defeating Mercer, 2-1, and Georgia Southern 4-2. Since, the Gamecocks have dropped two of their last three and tied once in a tough non-conference stretch versus No. 9 Clemson, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington. Danny Deakin has led the squad thus far with four goals and one assist, while Jeffrey Torda has two goals to his credit.
The No. 5 Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina were picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big South crown, after claiming the league championship in 2014. CCU centerback Tommy Gudmundsson was also voted as the league's co-Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Coastal has yet to lose in 2015, allowing just one goal through four matches. The Chanticleers defeated No. 22 Old Dominion (2-0), VCU (2-0), No. 18 Charlotte (2-0), William & Mary (2-0) and tied with No. 6 Clemson, 1-1.
Series History
UAB and South Carolina have met 17 times in the two teams' history, with the first matchup coming in the 1995 campaign. The Gamecocks hold an 11-5-1 advantage in the series, as the two squads met twice in 2014. The Blazers defeated South Carolina, 1-0, in the regular season, before falling in the C-USA Championship, 1-0.
UAB has faced Coastal Carolina three times dating back to the 2000 season. The Chanticleers return to Birmingham Monday for the first time since 2001, when UAB won the matchup, 2-0 in the UAB Nike Classic. The Blazers were also victorious, 3-1, in 2000, and topped the No. 18 squad last season, 2-1, in Conway, S.C.
Game Promotions
Friday: UAB's Marching Band, the "Marching Blazers" will perform at halftime of Friday night's match. The UAB cheerleaders, along with Blaze will also be in attendance to cheer on the soccer team versus the Gamecocks.
Monday: Monday night's match versus No. 5 Coastal Carolina is being tabbed "Monday Night Futbol," and also International Night. UAB has partnered with the International House to celebrate all of UAB's international students and student-athletes. The first 250 fans will receive a free Monday Night Futbol t-shirt.
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.
Looking Ahead
Following the C-USA opener Friday and a non-conference matchup versus No. 5 Coastal Carolina Monday, the Blazers hit the road next weekend for C-USA play at No. 12 Old Dominion. That match is set for Friday, Sept. 25 in Norfolk, Va.
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).
