UAB Men’s Soccer Suffers First Defeat of ‘13
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In the final match of the 2013 UAB “Soccer for a Cure” Classic, the No. 8 UAB men’s soccer team (3-1-1, 0-0-1) suffered its first setback of the season, a 1-0 loss to East Tennessee State (2-1-2, 0-0-0) at West Campus Field on Sunday. ETSU’s lone goal came off a Blazer own goal in the 62nd minute.
“Own goals are a part of soccer,” head coach Mike Getman said. “The own goal, to me, was not the issue. We played two matches, scored zero goals. That’s what is disappointing.”
UAB had its chances to score throughout the match, but could never get on the scoreboard. Early in the first half, redshirt senior midfielder Patrick Huang had a great opportunity. Huang sent a shot soaring toward the ETSU goal in the 14th minute, but it clanked off the crossbar.
Neither team would record a shot on goal in the first stanza, leaving each team 45 minutes to search for that first tally. In the 62nd minute, ETSU would get that goal.
Junior defender Darion Copeland attempted to clear a ball out of the UAB box. His clear sailed into the Blazers’ goal, giving the Buccaneers a 1-0 lead.
A shot by Copeland and sophomore forward Freddy Ruiz in the final 28 minutes were both on net, but East Tennessee State senior goalkeeper Ryan Coulter kept the home squad off the board.
“At this level, one play is the difference in the game,” Getman concluded. “It’s always one play here, one play there that is the difference. Today, one play went their way instead of ours. One play, one loss doesn’t change who we are.”
ETSU and Memphis each recorded one victory in the UAB “Soccer for a Cure” Classic. Memphis was awarded the team title, after scoring two goals to ETSU’s one. Shane Keely, a senior midfielder from Memphis, was the tournament MVP after recording the game-winning goal for the Tigers in their 2-1 victory against No. 21 Charlotte.
UAB will be back on the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they host Mercer. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at West Campus Field.
Notes: ETSU senior goalkeeper Ryan Coulter has not surrendered a goal in four consecutive matches … For the second straight year, the Blazers suffered their first defeat at the hands of East Tennessee State … The 2013 UAB “Soccer for a Cure” Classic All-Tournament Team was Memphis senior midfielder Liam Collins, redshirt senior forward Mark Sherrod, senior midfielder Shane Keely, freshman midfielder Raul Gonzalez, East Tennessee State senior midfielder Itode Fubara, redshirt senior midfielder Luis Calzadilla, junior defender Nick Dykes, Charlotte senior defender Thomas Allen, senior midfielder Aidan Kirkbride, UAB senior goalkeeper Raphael Ville, and redshirt senior midfielder Chase Wickham.
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