Sept. 27, 2008

Final Stats

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

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The University of Memphis men's soccer team was defeated, 2-0, by the UAB Blazers on Saturday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The loss moves the Tigers' record to 2-7 on the season. They are 0-2 in Conference USA games. UAB is now 3-4-2. Their conference record now stands at 1-0.

"It is a bit frustrating, the second goal was the decisive part of the game and it was an uphill battle after that," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "An absolute credit goes out to UAB. At the start of the game they were better than us. Their first goal was indicative of the way they started the game. We have a lot of work to do before the SMU game next Sunday."

UAB kicked things off with a quick goal in the 4th minute of the contest. Kevin Sawchak, a sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., scored on a play where the Blazers got ahold of the ball near the top of the box, Sawchak got the ball after touches by Two-Boys Gumede and Michal Mravec and put it past Memphis goalkeeper Michael Goodlett. The goal was Sawchak's first goal of the year.

UAB had three shots within the first ten minute of the game, but only had one shot the rest of the first half. Memphis totaled three shots in the first half.

In the second period, the game remained 1-0, until UAB scored in the 71st minute of the match. Carlo Schiavoni, the Blazers' senior midfielder, took a corner kick from the far side and found defender Curtis Ushedo who headed the ball into the upper right corner of the goal near the far post. The goal was the first of the year for the sophomore from Missassauga, Ontario.

Memphis had six shots compared to UAB's five in the second period. Corner kicks were fairly even in the game. Memphis took six corners to UAB's seven. Tiger midfield Tripp Harkins had three shots, including two shots on goal. Five Tigers had one shot in the game. UAB's Frank Brown led the way in shots for the Blazers with three, while Sawchak racked up two shots.

Blazers' goalie Wes Johnson got the win in goal to move his record to 2-3 on the season. Johnson pitched a shutout for UAB while accumulating four saves. Goodlett, the goalie for the U of M, picked up the loss. His record now stands at 1-6 on the year. The junior netminder from Bolton, Miss., had four saves and allowed both Blazer goals. Goodlett now has a 1.49 goals against average on the year.

The Tigers will next take on the SMU Mustangs on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 12 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The game will be broadcast on CBS College Sports. This will be the second Memphis men's soccer game to ever be broadcast on television.