MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 15 UAB men’s soccer team (7-1-1, 1-0-1) won its fourth consecutive match with a 2-1 victory against Memphis (6-3-1, 1-1-0) on Wednesday night. It marks the team’s longest winning streak of the 2013 season.

“I thought we played really well for about 75 minutes,” head coach Mike Getman said. “We controlled how the game was played and scored two really nice goals. I thought we really did what we wanted to."

For the third consecutive match, UAB registered a goal in the opening 20 minutes of the game. In the 19th minute, freshman forward Rami Dajani broke away from the Memphis defense. Dajani fired a shot into the lower left corner past Memphis redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Cody Uzcategui.

“We are a very good attacking team,” commented Getman. “We have a lot of different people that can score. Tonight, it was two different people scoring. It’s hard to focus on one or two guys for us. With us, every guy can create and get chances.”

Six minutes later, the Blazers struck again. Sophomore forward Freddy Ruiz collected a pass from redshirt senior Patrick Huang and had a one-on-one with Uzcategui. Ruiz dribbled past the charging Tiger keeper and buried the ball into the empty net to give UAB an early 2-0 advantage.

In addition to a great offensive effort in the first half the UAB defense put in an excellent performance on the pitch. The Blazers’ backline held Memphis to only three shots in the opening 45 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Raphael Ville made one save in the first half, as well.

In the second half, Memphis was looking to put one on the board. The UAB defense made things hectic for the host-Tigers, limiting them one shot on goal in the final 45 minutes.

Memphis was finally able to break through in the 79th minute. After a UAB penalty in the box, the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick. Tigers senior forward Mark Sherrod converted, cutting the Blazers’ lead to 2-1. That would be all for the host team though, as UAB hung on for a 2-1 win.

The UAB men’s soccer team is back in action on Sunday, Oct. 6 when it hosts Conference USA foe Florida Atlantic. The Florida Atlantic match is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at West Campus Field.

Notes: UAB has not surrendered a goal from the run of play in the past 608:25 … The Blazers are 7-0-0 when scoring at least two goals … For the third game in-a-row, UAB scored a goal in the opening 20 minutes … Freshman forward Rami Dajani scored his third goal of 2013 and his first since the game-winner against Indiana … Sophomore forward Freddy Ruiz tallied his sixth goal of the season, which leads the squad.

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