Early goals prove enough as men’s soccer team take down FIU
Posted on Oct 09, 2012 in Sports
The UAB men’s soccer team captured their first conference game this weekend as they faced Florida International University Saturday night in Miami as they improve to 6-3-2.
The Blazers, who are defensively one of the strongest teams in Conference USA, wasted no time getting control of the game and isolating FIU to one side of the field.
UAB picks up first C-USA win of the season after falling to SMU. Kyle Thompson/ Staff photographer
UAB scored the opening goal nine minutes and 36 seconds into the match when Senior Kofi Gyawu found Chase Wickham at the far left side of the field. Wickham then capitalized on the opportunity, beating FIU’s goal keeper and planting the ball in the right corner of the net. Gyawu now leads the team with three assists and four goals on the year while Wickham is right behind him with three goals and four assists in his second season as a Blazer.
Before the end of the first half the Blazers extended their lead 2-0 as Mladen Lemez scored his third goal of the season, connecting with the back of the net on a penalty kick 56 minutes into the game.
“Our guys played a great game tonight,” UAB head coach Mike Getman said. “We controlled the play early and got the two-goal lead”.
The second half of the match was a defensive struggle with The Golden Panthers outshooting the Blazers 15-8. FIU finally capitalized on one of their shots 78 minutes into the game bringing the score to 2-1.
“Give FIU credit they scored an incredible goal to get back in the match, UAB head Coach Mike Getman said. “Their keeper was also very good tonight. We played well for 90 minutes and it will take a very good team to beat us when we play like this.”
There is still a lot of work to be done and UAB men’s soccer team will have to continue to play hard every game in order to get back into the top 25 and secure a tournament appearance.
The Blazers are looking to improve their rankings this week as they travel to South Carolina to face the Gamecocks in their next Conference USA match October 10, at 6 p.m. CST (7 p.m. EST).
Mike Getman’s Blazers will return home after a two game road trip for three straight conference games against Kentucky, Tulsa, and the Marshall Thundering Herd.
The Blazers currently are fifth in conference and look to improve their spot in the coming weeks.
Chase Cole
Staff Writer
chascoleman@uab.edu