Oct. 17, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Coming off a 2-0 upset win over No. 18 South Carolina, the Kentucky men’s soccer team returns to action, facing Conference USA foe Alabama Birmingham, at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at UAB’s West Campus Field.

Kentucky (6-4-2, 2-1 C-USA) posted just its second win over South Carolina in the history of the series, dominating the Gamecocks en route to a 2-0 win. UK got goals from Tim Crone and Brad Walker in the win, while goalkeeper Dan Williams posted his fifth shutout of the season in a three-save game.

Crone and Williams each earned conference player of the week honors, with Crone earning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career. Williams, a junior from Fairfax Station, Va., was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week, with his shutout of the Gamecocks and his season-high seven save performance against No. 14 Tulsa.

The Wildcats have been led offensively by senior forward Michael Strong, who leads the team with seven goals in 11 games played, also adding an assist. Crone ranks second with four goals and an assist, while Jason Griffiths (3 goals, 1 assist), Marco dos Santos (3 goals, 1 assist) and Sam Vernalls (2 goals, three assists) each check in with seven points. In goal, Williams has totaled a 0.73 goals against average, allowing nine goals in 12 games, logging 1102 minutes.

UK leads the all-time series with UAB, 3-1, posting wins in 2004, 2005 and 2007. In last years win, UK got a goal from Barry Rice in the 82nd minute, edging the Blazers 1-0 at the UK Soccer Complex. While UK did not play UAB at West Campus Field in 2007, it did compete in the conference tournament held there, a loss to Marshall to end the season.

UAB (4-6-2, 1-2 C-USA) has been led offensively by Two-Boys Gumede and Derek Rios, with both totaling a team-best three goals. Gumede, Rios and Michal Mravec all check in with two assists. The Blazers are coming off a 1-0 defeat at Central Florida on Oct. 11, and notched a conference win over Memphis on Sept. 27.