Aug. 15, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team is set to open the 2006 exhibition season when it hosts the University of Mobile Rams on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. on West Campus Field. Admission will be free for the general public.

The Blazers look to improve on last year's 10-7-1 overall record, including a third-place finish in the always-tough Conference USA (5-3-1). That area should be helped by the return of 18 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's squad, including a pair of All-American candidates in seniors Jerson Monteiro and Sandy Gbandi.

Following Thursday's exhibition, UAB will play one final preseason contest when it travels to Huntsville, Ala., to take on Louisville on Saturday, Aug. 19. The game will be played at John Hunt Park, and is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

"Both teams are top quality opponents that will challenge us early to see what we need to work on," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Certainly our match with Louisville will be a continuation of our long standing rivalry in Conference USA, and we look forward to playing them again after a one year absence. Both matches should give us what we need to start the season on the right foot."

The Blazers will open the 2006 regular season at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend, Ind. UAB will take on two of the most prolific collegiate soccer teams in the nation in No. 15 Notre Dame and No. 17 Indiana, on Aug. 25 and 27, respectively.