The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
11/5/2026 10:02:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's soccer was well-represented on the All-American Conference Teams announced Thursday, with five Blazers earning postseason recognition. Tony Kim headlined the selections with a First Team All-American Conference nod, while Alan Melendez earned Second Team honors. Three Blazers were named to the All-Freshman Team, including Tim Pusback, Ethan Schulz and Rylie Siddall.
Kim earned First Team All-American Conference honors after starting all 15 matches for the Blazers, totaling 1,064 minutes on the pitch. He led UAB with nine goals and added an assist to finish the season with 19 points. Kim recorded 29 shots, including 11 on goal, and scored four game-winning goals, ranking second in the American. He also converted both of his penalty-kick attempts and recorded two multi-goal performances during the season. Kim found the back of the net five times over a six-match stretch.
The senior forward earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7 and collected three additional Honorable Mention selections throughout the campaign. Kim previously earned Second Team All-American Conference recognition as a sophomore in 2024.
Melendez garnered Second Team All-American Conference honors after starting 14 matches and logging 1,206 minutes for the Blazers. The Birmingham, Ala., native recorded an assist and nine shots, including three on goal. A consistent presence in the midfield, Melendez helped the Blazers record three clean sheets during the season. He played at least 75 minutes in every appearance, including seven complete 90-minute performances.
In addition to being named the American Conference Freshman of the Year, Pusback earned a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team after making an immediate impact on the UAB backline. The Bamberg, Germany, native started all 15 matches and logged 1,311 minutes, helping anchor a defensive unit that recorded three shutouts. Pusback also contributed offensively with an assist and two shots, including one on goal.
Pusback collected two American Conference weekly honors during his debut campaign, including Defensive Player of the Week recognition after helping lead UAB to a 1-0 shutout victory over Temple. He contributed to the clean sheet while also recording a shot in the win.
Schulz earned All-Freshman Team recognition after starting all 15 matches in goal for the Blazers during his debut season. The freshman goalkeeper recorded five wins and three shutouts while totaling 45 saves, the third-highest mark in the American. He recorded a season-high seven saves on two occasions and earned a pair of American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors, along with several Honorable Mention selections.
Siddall rounded out UAB's All-Freshman Team selections after appearing in 12 matches and totaling 794 minutes during his freshman campaign. The forward recorded three shots on goal and contributed an assist in the Blazers' road matchup against Memphis on Oct. 17.
2026 American Conference Men's Soccer Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Santiago Possu, Gr., F, FIU
Defensive Player of the Year: Harris O'Connor, 5th, D, Missouri State*
Midfielder of the Year: Luc Achermann-Stanfield, Sr., M, Tulsa
Goalkeeper of the Year: Carlito Saylon, Jr., GK, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year: Tim Pusback, Fr., D, UAB
Coaching Staffs of the Year: Missouri State, Tulsa
Team Fair Play Award: Missouri State
2026 All-American Conference Team
First Team
Tony Kim, Sr., F, UAB
Sam Manufor, So., D, Charlotte
Natsuki Ogata, Sr., M, Charlotte*
Michael Raggett, Jr., F, Charlotte
Santiago Possu, Gr., F, FIU
Adrian Esteban, 5th, M, Missouri State
Diego Real, 5th, F, Missouri State*
Harris O'Connor, 5th, D, Missouri State*
Tyler Richardson, Sr., D, South Florida
Luc Achermann-Stanfield, Sr., M, Tulsa*
Carlito Saylon, Jr., GK, Tulsa
Second Team
Alan Melendez, Gr., M, UAB
Larry Noel, Sr., F, Charlotte
Emil Lausten, So., D, Florida Atlantic
Alfred Mikkelsen, Sr., GK, Florida Atlantic
Enzo Rabot, Sr., D, Florida Atlantic
Jonas Sundli-Hardig, Jr., M, Florida Atlantic
Owen Barnett, Gr., M, FIU
Nigel Van Haveren, Sr., GK, FIU
Keanan Bader, Sr., M, Memphis
Miller Lashlee, So., F, Memphis
Junior Saint Juste, Gr., D, Memphis
Renan Syrio, Jr., F, Memphis
Carlos Rojas, Jr., F, Temple
Freshman Team
Tim Pusback, D, UAB*
Ethan Schulz, GK, UAB
Rylie Siddall, F, UAB
Vilmer Brunskog, D, Charlotte
Olle Lovdahl, M, Florida Atlantic
Sergio Perello, D, FIU*
Ben Furlong, F, Missouri State*
Dan González, M, Missouri State
Micah Harris, D, South Florida
Taimoor Hussain, M, Temple*
Bruno Medina, D, Tulsa
Druv Pareek, D, Tulsa
*Unanimous selection
2026-27 GOLD CARD
The 2026-27 Gold Card is on Sale. The 2026-27 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for American or NCAA Championship events.
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE FUND
The Competitive Excellence Fund has become integral in our department mission to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the community. Through your generosity, our coaches will have the greatest opportunity to recruit and retain talented student athletes worthy of wearing a UAB uniform. Click here or connect with the Blazer Boosters team on how you can continue to fuel success.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow @UAB_MSOC on X and Instagram.
Kim earned First Team All-American Conference honors after starting all 15 matches for the Blazers, totaling 1,064 minutes on the pitch. He led UAB with nine goals and added an assist to finish the season with 19 points. Kim recorded 29 shots, including 11 on goal, and scored four game-winning goals, ranking second in the American. He also converted both of his penalty-kick attempts and recorded two multi-goal performances during the season. Kim found the back of the net five times over a six-match stretch.
The senior forward earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7 and collected three additional Honorable Mention selections throughout the campaign. Kim previously earned Second Team All-American Conference recognition as a sophomore in 2024.
Melendez garnered Second Team All-American Conference honors after starting 14 matches and logging 1,206 minutes for the Blazers. The Birmingham, Ala., native recorded an assist and nine shots, including three on goal. A consistent presence in the midfield, Melendez helped the Blazers record three clean sheets during the season. He played at least 75 minutes in every appearance, including seven complete 90-minute performances.
In addition to being named the American Conference Freshman of the Year, Pusback earned a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team after making an immediate impact on the UAB backline. The Bamberg, Germany, native started all 15 matches and logged 1,311 minutes, helping anchor a defensive unit that recorded three shutouts. Pusback also contributed offensively with an assist and two shots, including one on goal.
Pusback collected two American Conference weekly honors during his debut campaign, including Defensive Player of the Week recognition after helping lead UAB to a 1-0 shutout victory over Temple. He contributed to the clean sheet while also recording a shot in the win.
Schulz earned All-Freshman Team recognition after starting all 15 matches in goal for the Blazers during his debut season. The freshman goalkeeper recorded five wins and three shutouts while totaling 45 saves, the third-highest mark in the American. He recorded a season-high seven saves on two occasions and earned a pair of American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors, along with several Honorable Mention selections.
Siddall rounded out UAB's All-Freshman Team selections after appearing in 12 matches and totaling 794 minutes during his freshman campaign. The forward recorded three shots on goal and contributed an assist in the Blazers' road matchup against Memphis on Oct. 17.
2026 American Conference Men's Soccer Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Santiago Possu, Gr., F, FIU
Defensive Player of the Year: Harris O'Connor, 5th, D, Missouri State*
Midfielder of the Year: Luc Achermann-Stanfield, Sr., M, Tulsa
Goalkeeper of the Year: Carlito Saylon, Jr., GK, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year: Tim Pusback, Fr., D, UAB
Coaching Staffs of the Year: Missouri State, Tulsa
Team Fair Play Award: Missouri State
2026 All-American Conference Team
First Team
Tony Kim, Sr., F, UAB
Sam Manufor, So., D, Charlotte
Natsuki Ogata, Sr., M, Charlotte*
Michael Raggett, Jr., F, Charlotte
Santiago Possu, Gr., F, FIU
Adrian Esteban, 5th, M, Missouri State
Diego Real, 5th, F, Missouri State*
Harris O'Connor, 5th, D, Missouri State*
Tyler Richardson, Sr., D, South Florida
Luc Achermann-Stanfield, Sr., M, Tulsa*
Carlito Saylon, Jr., GK, Tulsa
Second Team
Alan Melendez, Gr., M, UAB
Larry Noel, Sr., F, Charlotte
Emil Lausten, So., D, Florida Atlantic
Alfred Mikkelsen, Sr., GK, Florida Atlantic
Enzo Rabot, Sr., D, Florida Atlantic
Jonas Sundli-Hardig, Jr., M, Florida Atlantic
Owen Barnett, Gr., M, FIU
Nigel Van Haveren, Sr., GK, FIU
Keanan Bader, Sr., M, Memphis
Miller Lashlee, So., F, Memphis
Junior Saint Juste, Gr., D, Memphis
Renan Syrio, Jr., F, Memphis
Carlos Rojas, Jr., F, Temple
Freshman Team
Tim Pusback, D, UAB*
Ethan Schulz, GK, UAB
Rylie Siddall, F, UAB
Vilmer Brunskog, D, Charlotte
Olle Lovdahl, M, Florida Atlantic
Sergio Perello, D, FIU*
Ben Furlong, F, Missouri State*
Dan González, M, Missouri State
Micah Harris, D, South Florida
Taimoor Hussain, M, Temple*
Bruno Medina, D, Tulsa
Druv Pareek, D, Tulsa
*Unanimous selection
2026-27 GOLD CARD
The 2026-27 Gold Card is on Sale. The 2026-27 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for American or NCAA Championship events.
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE FUND
The Competitive Excellence Fund has become integral in our department mission to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Impact the community. Through your generosity, our coaches will have the greatest opportunity to recruit and retain talented student athletes worthy of wearing a UAB uniform. Click here or connect with the Blazer Boosters team on how you can continue to fuel success.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow @UAB_MSOC on X and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's SoccerSunday, November 08
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Monday, November 02
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