BIRMINGHAM, AL Hermann Award candidate Scott Jones had two assists and teammate and fellow Hermann candidate Randi Patterson scored his sixth goal of the season as UNC Greensboro spoiled UAB's home opener with a 3-1 win in men's soccer action at the UAB Classic on Friday night.

UNCG, which is ranked No. 23 by College Soccer News this week but does not appear in any of the other three national polls, defeated the Blazers, who are ranked No. 22 by Soccer Times, No. 23 by NSCAA and No. 27 by College Soccer News this week, for the second straight year. Last year, UNCG defeated UAB, 4-2, at the Davidson Classic.

It is the first time UAB has lost in its own tournament since a loss in 2002 at the hands of Rhode Island.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, UNCG exploded for three tallies in the second half. Patterson, a junior from Hackensack, NJ, scored his sixth of the season at 52:49 off a feed from Jones to tie the game. The goal was the 36th of Patterson's career.

UNCG took a 2-1 lead on an own goal just 2:17 later. A cross attempt by Thomas Campbell was knocked in by a Blazer defender and the Spartans gained a lead they would not surrender.

With 12:08 to play, Jamie Carlson closed out the scoring when he scored on a header. Jones, a junior from Dallas, TX, lofted a corner kick into the box, where Carlson headed it home for his second goal of the season.

With the win, the Spartans bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Connecticut last Sunday. After the win, Connecticut vaulted to No. 1 in the Soccer America Top 25.

Jay Benfield made four saves to earn the win as UNCG outshot UAB, 26-19 on the night.

UNCG (3-2) will take on Birmingham-Southern on Sunday at 1 pm ET. Birmingham-Southern (3-2) defeated Evansville, 4-1, in a game Friday evening.

AGATE

Goals by period       1  2  Tot

UNC Greensboro..0..3.. -  3

UAB.................1..0.. -  1

SCORING SUMMARY: UAB Gbandi (McLaughlin), 34:28; UNCG Patterson (Jones), 52:49; UNCG OWN GOAL, 55:06; UNCG Carlson (Jones), 77:52; Shots: UNC Greensboro 26, UAB 19; Saves: UNC Greensboro 4 (Benfield 4), UAB 4 (Robles, 4); Corner kicks: UNCG 7, UAB 4. Fouls: UNCG 21, UAB 17.

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