UAB rallies to beat UNCG, 3-2, in men's soccer Top 25 clash

GREENSBORO, NC -- UAB used two goals by Jerson Monteiro to help rally from an early 2-0 deficit and beat UNC Greensboro, 3-2, in a clash of Top 25 teams at the 2006 UNCG Men’s Soccer Classic on Friday night.

The Spartans, ranked in three of the four polls this week and rated as high as No. 18, jumped out early with a pair of goals just 57 seconds apart. All-American Scott Jones, a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, scored his second goal of the season on a blast from 25 yards out to give UNCG a 1-0 lead at the 11:45 mark. Jones blast came off a feed from Jokull Elisabetarson.

Less than a minute later, Michael FitzGerald scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year on a gorgeous sliding shot. Thomas Campbell fed FitzGerald in the box with a long pass from the left side, hitting the ball from 45 yards away. Campbell slid into area where the ball was coming down and got a foot on it, drilling it into the net to give UNCG a 2-0 advantage at 12:42.

But the momentum shifted when UAB (3-1-1), which is ranked in two of the four polls and rated as high as No. 17, was awarded a penalty kick at 17:16 after a foul in the box on a loose ball situation. Lukasy Kwapisz connected to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

Monetiro then tied the game midway through the first half on a Spartan defensive blunder. UNCG’s defense made an ill-advised pass, which was then fumbled by the Spartan keeper. Monteiro raced over to the loose ball and easily chipped it into the net from 12 yards out to tie the game.

The score remained even until 59:30 when Monteiro scored out of a crowd in front of the goal. A Blazer corner kick landed in the box and went off several players before Monteiro hit it towards the goal, possibly being deflected yet again, and finding the back of the net for a 3-2 lead.

UNCG (3-2-0) outshot UAB 11-9 on the night. UAB, which has had all five matches this year decided by one goal or less, held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

In the first match of the evening, Elon defeated Belmont, 1-0. On Sunday, Elon will face UAB at 1 pm, followed by Belmont facing UNCG at approximately 3:30 pm.

AGATE

UAB.................  2  1 -  3

UNC Greensboro......  2  0 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY: UNCG Jones (Elisabetarson), 11:45; UNCG FitzGerald (Campbell), 12:42; Kwapisz (penalty kick), 17:16; UAB Monteiro (unassisted), 24:42; UAB Monteiro (unassisted), 59:30. Shots: UAB 9, UNC Greensboro 11. Saves: UAB 3 (Drake, 3), UNC Greensboro 1 (Berry 1).  Corner Kicks: UAB 7, UNCG 1. Fouls: UNCG 24, UAB 22.

- UNCG -