Byaruhanga Keeps Streak Alive, Blazers Advance to Play SMU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala - UAB forward Peter Byaruhanga (By-yar-ung-uh) scored the game winning goal, off an assist from Houston Smith, to keep his consecutive goal scoring streak alive and lift Conference USA Tournament champion, regular season Co-Champion and 16th-ranked (by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) UAB past fourth-ranked (by the NSCAA) and eighth-seeded Southwest Missouri State (17-1-3) 2-1 in first round play of the NCAA Championship at West Campus Field. Byaruhanga's goal marked the 14th consecutive match in which he has scored, the second longest streak in NCAA history. The NCAA record is 16, set between 1961 and 1962. Byaruhanga now has 18 goals in 18 games.

Severin Lwali (Sev-er-in Law-ley) of SMS scored the game's first goal from two feet out at the 4:03 mark, with an assist from Mike Williams and Dan Watson. UAB's Flavio Monteiro (Flav-e-o Mon-tear-o) answered at the 11:47 mark, scoring his 12th goal in 13 matches, with an assist from Byaruhanga and Juan Carlos Deras (Dare-us).

"I thought it was a good game," said Head Coach Jon Leamy (Lee-me). "We got on the board early and that is something we have not been doing in the past third of the season. I thought the start of the second half was going to be real key and I thought UAB came out stronger and had more initiative."

"Both Flavio and Peter are real difference makers. They were the two players that we needed to stop and contain and we did not do it. And to their credit, they are players that can carry their team on their backs. To have two weapons like that is a dangerous combination."

David Clemente (Clem-in-tee) gave up one goal, had four stops and picked up the win for UAB, his 12th straight. With the win, Clemente set the all-time single season school record for goalie victories.

"That is one of the hardest teams we've ever played," said Clemente. "They deserve everything they had this year. They were a good team."

Mark Modersohn gave up two goals, had two saves and picked up the loss.

The Bears out-shot UAB 25-12 on the match. The win for the Blazers marked the 12th straight, a school record, and marked the first NCAA Tournament win for the soccer program.

"I thought our success was a combination of scoring a great goal in the second half and our guys did a great job defensively at the end of the game to preserve the win," said Head Coach Mike Getman. "That is an awfully good Southwest Missouri State team. This was two different teams that play two very different styles. They worked physically as hard as any team we've faced. They probably match up with us a well as any team we've faced."

"It's been an amazing year where both Peter and Flavio have scored one each in so many games. This is the biggest win we've ever had. This is our first ever NCAA Tournament win."

UAB (16-5-0) will face 17th-ranked (by the NSCAA) Southern Methodist (16-3-0) in second round play of the NCAA Championship. SMU defeated 21st-ranked (by the NSCAA) Creighton 2-1 in double overtime in first round play Saturday. The date and site will be announced Monday by the NCAA.