The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Carolina
Blazers Fall To Penalty Kick at South Carolina
10/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Final Stats (PDF)
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The UAB men's soccer team lost a close game on Saturday night at South Carolina. The Gamecocks were the beneficiaries of a penalty kick in the 68th minute that led to the lone goal of the match. The Blazers fall to 6-5-3 and 2-2-1 in Conference USA and South Carolina improves to 8-3-1 and 3-0-1 in conference. USC entered the game receiving votes in the latest NSCAA Coaches' Poll.
UAB held the majority of the advantages in the contest. The Blazers outshot the Gamecocks 7-5 in the first half and saw three early chances within the first 13 minutes of play, but the aggressiveness by UAB to begin the game did not materialize into a goal.
UAB goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky had a superb diving stop on a free kick from Danny Deakin in the 63rd minute. The two would get matched up once again in the 68th minute after Eder Mora was called with a foul inside the box. Deakin drilled a low shot into the left side of the net while Kuzminsky dove the opposite way as South Carolina took a 1-0 lead.
The Blazers provided a few more chances to close out the game. A low cross dealt into the box in the 78th minute was nearly hit into the net by a Gamecocks defender by goalkeeper William Pyle corralled the ball to prevent an own goal. UAB saw another similar play nearly pay dividends in the 82nd minute when a well-placed cross found the head of Philip Makinde at the top of the goalie box but he was unable to get a clean hit on the ball.
UAB finished with 11 shots to South Carolina's nine while each team had five shots on target.
The Blazers have a week off before their next contest at No. 14 Charlotte. The 49ers are 8-2-0 this season and sit just behind the Gamecocks in the C-USA standings with nine points. That game is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 at 6 p.m. CT.
