UAB Tops No. 18 Coastal Carolina, 2-1

September 20, 2014

CONWAY, S.C. – The UAB men’s soccer team scored two goals in the first half to defeat No. 18 Coastal Carolina, 2-1, Saturday night in Conway, S.C. at the CCU Soccer Stadium.

“It was a great win against a very good team,” head coach Mike Getman said. “We played very well in the first half and then we were very disciplined in the second. Alex Clay and Darion Copeland showed their class tonight. It was a great team performance.”

The Chanticleers entered the match ranked 18th in the Soccer America poll and were fresh off a 3-0 win over South Carolina at home four days ago. The Blazers (4-2-1) held Coastal Carolina to its one early goal to seal the 2-1 victory in UAB’s first over a ranked opponent on the road since Aug. 30, 2013 when the Blazers took down No. 24 VCU.

CCU struck quick, just seven minutes in when Sergio Camargo found the net on an Elis Bjornsson assist. UAB found its rhythm 10 minutes later to put its first points on the board.

Senior Pachinno Roberts put in a header off a corner kick from Stewart Abrahart in the 18th minute. Junior Freddy Ruiz provided the game-winner in the 33rd minute when Alex Clay dished the assist to Ruiz to score his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Chanticleers held the advantage in shots, 19-7. Sophomore Joe Kuzminsky was solid in goal for UAB stopping eight CCU shots on target.

With the win UAB increases its advantage in the all-time series to 3-0 against CCU.

The Blazers return home on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match against Missouri State at West Campus Field.