Oct. 26, 2007

UCF-UAB Game Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's soccer team will be looking for its first Conference USA victory of the season when the Blazers square off against the UCF Knights on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at West Campus Field. The winner of the contest will have an inside track for a berth into the 2007 Conference USA Championship hosted by UAB.

The Blazers and Knights will be meeting for only the third time on the pitch, with UAB holding a 1-0-1 advantage in the series history. Last year, the two teams battled through a weather delay and double overtime, before resulting in a 2-2 tie.

UAB enters Saturday's contest with a 5-9-1 overall record and an 0-5 mark in league play. The Blazers are in quite a funk, having dropped seven of their last eight contests, all of which have been decided by one goal. In fact, UAB is 2-8 in one-goal contests this season. Prior to its winless skid over the last eight contests (0-7-1), UAB put together a five-game winning streak beginning Sept 7, and capped off by a victory at then-No. 10 Indiana on Sept. 21.

The Blazers are led by junior Dejan Jakovic, a MAC Hermann Trophy candidate. The Etibicoke, Ontario native is living up to his billing as one of the top players in the country, leading his team in goals (6) and points (13) on the season. Meanwhile, junior Frank Brown is also making his presence felt, as the Preston, England native is second on the team with four goals and 10 points. The Blazers are 4-0 when Jakovic finds the back of the net this season, and 2-0 when the two leading scorers account for a goal in the same game.

Defensively, goalkeeper Wes Johnson, a two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, leads the Blazers. Johnson has recorded three shutouts and an impressive 1.07 goals allowed average this season.

The UCF Knights enter Saturday night's contest a half game ahead of the Blazers for the eighth and final spot for the Conference USA Championship, which will be hosted at UAB's West Campus Field. UCF sports a 4-9-1 overall record and are 0-4-1 in league play. The Knights enter the contest on a bit of a losing streak, having dropped six consecutive games after beginning the year 4-3-1.

Leading the offensive attack will be junior forward Ryan Roushandel, whose eight goals and 16 points on the year not only lead UCF, but ranks second and third, respectively, in the latest Conference USA stats. Meanwhile, Roushandel's team-best 49 shots on the year also leads the league. Roushandel is not the only scoring threat for the Knights, as junior forward Mike Mattson and senior forward James Georgeff have found the back of the net four times each, while Mattson's three assists lead the team.

Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Sean Johnson has played every minute in the net for UCF and is allowing an average of 2.24 goals per contest.

Students who come to the game and present a valid student ID at the entrance will receive free food and a free gift, courtesy of the UAB men's soccer team.