Sept. 26, 2008

 

IRVING, Texas - Two league contests highlight this weekend’s Conference USA Men’s Soccer action as Memphis will host UAB and No. 20 Tulsa will travel to Dallas to battle No. 6 SMU on Saturday. The Golden Hurricane and the Mustangs were picked to finish one-two in the C-USA standings when the coaches’ preseason poll was released prior to the start of the season.

UPCOMING MATCHES
Saturday, September 27
Kentucky at UNC-Asheville 1:00p
Bowling Green at Marshall 6:00p
Davidson at South Carolina 6:00p
*UAB at Memphis 7:00p
*(20)Tulsa at (6) SMU 7:00p

Sunday, September 28
Florida International at Florida Gulf Coast 6:00p

(20) Tulsa at (6) SMU
SMU (6-1-1) has a long-standing rivalry with Tulsa, and boast a 23-5-3 advantage in the series between the schools. The teams tied, 2-2, last year in Tulsa.

The Ponies have climbed in the national rankings this season, thanks in part to the play of forward Paulo da Silva, who leads the team in scoring with 12 points on five goals and five assists, earning him Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week awards twice already this season, and goalkeeper Craig Hill, who is tied for the C-USA lead with four shutouts, and leads the conference with a goals-against average of 0.49.

Tulsa will be led by freshman forward Austin Neil who was recently named the C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week and appeared on the latest Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week.

UAB at Memphis
UAB travels to Memphis, Tenn. to square off against the Tigers also on Saturday. The contest marks the first time the Blazers will open C-USA play against the Tigers in the 30 games played between the two longtime rivals.

Saturday is the 30th time the Blazers and Tigers are meeting on the pitch - the most games UAB has played against any single opponent. Memphis currently holds a 16-13 advantage in the series; however, the Blazers snapped a two-game losing streak to the Tigers with a 1-0 overtime win last season.

UAB (2-4-2) is led by senior Derek Rios’ five points on the year (2g, 1a), but the forward has missed his team’s last three games with an injury. In all, four UAB players have scored this season, as Rios, Two-Boys Gumede, Shane Elsner and Michal Mravec each have found the back of the net twice. Senior Carlo Schiavoni and freshman Andrew Barsalona lead the team with two assists apiece.

The Tigers come into the contest sporting a 2-6 record on the year, and are 0-1 in league play. Most recently, Memphis bounced back after its conference-opening loss at UCF (1-0 on Sept. 20) to defeat Missouri State, 2-0, this past Wednesday night.

Junior Brian Farrell, sophomore Ryan Ruble and senior Sean Goulding lead the offensive push for the Tigers. Farrell has recorded a team-leading three goals and six points, while Ruble (2g, 1a) and Goulding (2g, 1a) each have five points on the year.