Aug. 29, 2008

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior forward Derek Rios recorded a goal and an assist to lead the UAB men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Oral Roberts on Friday in the opening round of the Memphis Diadora Classic. The game was the season-opener for not only both teams, but for the 2008 NCAA Division I collegiate season.

"I thought we played well against a good team and got the result we wanted," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "I was pleased with our performance. I thought our defense was solid and played with confidence. Both teams had scoring chances and it could have easily been a higher scoring game, but we held tough and did what we needed to do to get the win."

The Blazers opened the scoring when junior Two-Boys Gumede scored the first UAB goal of the season in the 17th minute. Senior Frank Brown and Rios set the goal up with two straight passes, to find Gumede who finished from six-yards out to give his team an early one-goal lead. After missing the 2007 campaign, Gumede has opened the season on fire, scoring three goals in UAB's three contests this year (two exhibition).

"Two-Boys has the capability to take over any game," Getman said. "If we can continue to defend well, and Two-Boys can continue to create these kinds of chances, we are going to be a tough team to beat."

The Blazers held the goal advantage through halftime, but the Golden Eagles answered just three minutes into the second half when Jordan Tatum beat UAB goalkeeper Wes Johnson to even the score at 1-1 at the 48:26 mark.

However, Rios would come through again with his third career game-winning goal. The senior received a pass from the wing off the foot of freshman midfielder Andrew Barsalona and deposited a shot past the ORU goalkeeper to result in the final margin.

The Blazers outshot the Golden Eagles, 12-11, including a 4-1 advantage on shots on goal. UAB also led in the corner kicks department, 4-2.

UAB will conclude tournament play when it takes on No. 21 Bradley in the finale on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m. CT. All games can be followed live on Gametracker, by logging on to UABsports.com.