Oct. 2, 2008

Tulsa Game Notes | Gametracker

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team will kick off the home portion of its 2008 Conference USA campaign when it plays host to the No. 15 Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The contest will mark UAB's first home game since a 1-0 loss to Western Illinois on Sept. 14.

"This is a huge game for us in terms of conference standing," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "We are hoping to get a huge crowd to come out and support our team. Tulsa is one of the best teams in the nation and it will take a great effort to beat them. They are just coming off a 4-1 win over the sixth-ranked team in the country, so they will be ready to play. It should make for a very exciting collegiate soccer match."

Tulsa and UAB have played on six previous occasions, with the Golden Hurricane holding a 4-1-1 advantage in the all-time series. Tulsa made it three straight wins in the series with a pair of victories over the Blazers last season. The two teams played the final game of the regular season at Tulsa, with UAB dropping a 2-0 decision. In the very next game in the opening round of the 2007 C-USA Tournament, hosted by UAB, the Blazers fell 1-0. UAB's only victory in the all-time series came with a 2-1 win at Tulsa back on Sept. 23, 2002.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane are ranked 15th in the nation in the latest Soccer America poll released earlier in the week. That is due in large part to the Golden Hurricane's 4-1 dismantling of previously unbeaten and sixth-ranked SMU in Dallas, Texas last Saturday.

Tulsa, who is the defending Conference USA regular season and tournament champion, has had 10 different players account for its 14 goals scored on the season. Leading the way is freshman forward Austin Neil and sophomore midfielder Zach Nulisch. Neil currently leads the team with six points (2g, 2a) while Nulisch is second with five points (2g, 1a). Senior goalkeeper Tyrel Lacey has played every minute in the goal this season for the Golden Hurricane. He has allowed eight goals and made 35 saves on his way to a .88 GAA on the campaign.

UAB recently snapped a four-game winless streak with a 2-0 win at Memphis on Sept. 27, which was the league opener for the Blazers. The result marked the first time the Blazers opened conference play with a road victory since a 2-1 win at Marquette in the 2004 campaign.

The Blazers are led by three players with five points, all coming on two goals and an assist. Senior Derek Rios, junior Two-Boys Gumede and sophomore Michal Mravec each lead the Blazers with two goals and an assist on the year, while senior Shane Elsner also has found the back of the net on two occasions. Senior Carlo Schiavoni has a team-leading three assists on the campaign.

Goalkeepers Wes Johnson and Carl Woszczynski split time in the net for the Blazers. Johnson recorded his first shutout of the season and seventh of his career in UAB's win at Memphis last week. He now has a team-low goals allowed average of .80 in five games this season. Meanwhile, Woszczynski has also played well in the net this season. He has a 1.33 GAA in the four contests he has played, and has made a team-high 19 saves on the year.

The contest is schedule to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT at West Campus Field and can be followed live on Gametracker by logging on to UABsports.com.

The match is free to UAB students who have a valid student ID. Additionally, students and UAB men's soccer season ticket holders are encouraged to come and enjoy free food and drinks at a pregame tailgate that will begin 90 minutes before the game (5:30 p.m. CT).