Oct. 4, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (5-4-1, 3-0-0 Conference USA) earned a 1-0 win on the road at UAB (5-3-2, 0-1-0 Conference USA) on Tuesday night in Conference USA action from West Campus Field in Birmingham, Ala. The win, Carolina’s fourth straight overall, is also the Gamecocks’ third-consecutive win to start the C-USA season. It marks the best start to a conference season for the squad since the 2005 campaign, Carolina’s first in the league.
“This was a very good win, on the road, in the conference against an excellent UAB team,” South Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “I’m very proud of our guys. We knew that we would be an improved team in October over where we were in September and our team has proven this to be the case. We played well in many aspects of the game tonight and to get a shutout on the road in league play and our fourth-straight win shows the direction in which this team is moving. I’m very proud of our players. Everyone did a great job.”
Sophomore forward Bradlee Baladez netted the game winner for South Carolina on an unassisted tally in the sixth minute of play.
UAB held a slight 10-9 advantage in overall shots, but Carolina held a 5-0 upperhand in shots on goal. Baladez, and junior forward Mike Mangotic each registered two shots on goal in the match for Carolina. Mladen Lemez led the Blazers with three shots, while Babayele Sodade, Alex Clay and Diego Navarrette each posted two.
Gamecock netminder Alex Long earned the first shutout of his career in the win. Long did not register a save in the match, however the Gamecock defense held the Blazers scoreless on 10 shots and 14 corner kicks. UAB goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski tallied four saves.
Baladez gave South Carolina the early lead in the sixth minute on an unassisted score on a volley into the upper right corner of frame. The Dallas, Texas, native hit a one-time shot past Woszczynski off a deflection from a UAB defender for the deciding 1-0 Carolina lead.
Woszczynski would register a save on a shot by Mangotic just two minutes later, and the Blazers posted five shots and seven corner kick opportunities during the remainder of the half, but the 1-0 score held at halftime.
Freshman midfielder Braeden Troyer nearly pushed the Gamecock lead to 2-0 in the 53rd minute on a shot that hit the post and sophomore defender Trevor Hubbard hit an attempt on frame that was saved by Woszczynski just two minutes later.
UAB registered two shots in the final 15 minutes of play, including an attempt wide by Clay in the 89th minute, but the Gamecocks were able to close the 1-0 road victory.
South Carolina continues C-USA action when it travels to face UCF on Saturday in Orlando. Game time is set for 4 p.m. ET.
