Oct. 8, 2006

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - One of the longest games in UAB men's soccer history ended in a 2-2 draw early Sunday morning against UCF at the UCF soccer complex. By the time the match ended, both teams had spent more than six hours at the complex trying to complete the contest. The Golden Knights built a 2-0 lead at the break, but the Blazers rallied to square the match at 2-2 following a 3:45 weather delay due to lightning in the area. Neither team found the back of the net in the two overtimes.

"I am pleased with the way we came back, but disappointed we couldn't get a win," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "I thought the first half was played fairly even. The difference in the half was they finished their chances and we could not. In the second half, we applied more pressure and were able to find the back of the net. I thought we had a chance to win the game on several occasions, one in particular, but things just didn't go our way.

"It is tough to keep focused after nearly a four-hour delay," Getman continued. "For our kids to continue to fight and even the score after that kind of delay is certainly something we can get some confidence from as we head into two important games this week."

UCF jumped out early, scoring twice in the opening 45 minutes. In the 20th minute, junior James Georgeff was able to capitalize and scored far side. The Golden Knights extended their lead in the 41st minute. Freshman Jamal Robinson served the ball into the box, where freshman Seung Tak Nam sent a header into the net.

After the lengthy weather delay, play resumed just before Midnight at the complex, and that's when the Blazers began to take control in the match. UAB (6-4-2, 1-1-1 C-USA) intensified their attack and posted 12 shots in the second half, compared to only nine by UCF. However, it wasn't until the 80th minute when the Blazers finally broke through on the scoreboard. Senior forward Jerson Monteiro scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season when he received a pass from fellow senior Derick Radcliffe and put the ball in the back of the net to cut the lead in half. Just over a minute later, UAB knotted the match at 2-2 when sophomore Two-Boys Gumede scored his first goal of the campaign when he finished off a rebound.

UCF (3-6-1, 1-1-1) outshot the Blazers, 6-2 in extra time, but both teams went scoreless after regulation. The Golden Knights put 17 of their 29 shots on goal forcing UAB goalkeeper Jeremy Drake to make 15 saves which ranks second on the school's single-game all-time list. Marcus Rein made five saves in goal for UCF as the Blazers reeled off 21 shots. Both teams had nine corner kicks in the match, with seven of those coming after the half for the Blazers.

UAB has a big week approaching as it takes on two nationally-ranked Conference USA opponents. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the Blazers travel to Memphis, Tenn. to take on the Tigers of Memphis at 7 p.m. UAB returns home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, when it takes on nationally-ranked Kentucky at 7 p.m. at West Campus Field.

Students who present a valid ID at the gates to the Kentucky game will receive a free meal, as well as a UAB men's soccer t-shirt.