UAB Blazers men's soccer

History

UAB began a men's soccer program back in 1979. Throughout its history, UAB has enjoyed great success in the men's soccer program. The men's team has been in the NCAA Tournament a total of 7 times including 2 Sweet Sixteen appearances and 1 Elite Eight appearance in 1999. The men's team has been ranked nationally numerous times throughout its history, including top 25 rankings in 16 of the last 18 seasons. One of UAB's biggest wins in the men's team history came when UAB upset the #1-ranked UCLA Bruins in 1997 by a score of 2–0. UAB would upset another #1-ranked team in 2006 when they beat the SMU Mustangs by a score of 2–1.

UAB's most recent conference change was announced during the 2021–22 offseason, when it left Conference USA (C-USA) for The American. The decision of the Sun Belt Conference to reinstate its men's soccer league effective with the 2022 season dropped the C-USA men's soccer membership to four. Of these four schools, three, including UAB, were scheduled to fully move from C-USA to The American in the near future, most likely in July 2023. Accordingly, The American brought all four remaining C-USA men's soccer teams into its own soccer league.

Stadium

The men's team began to play to play its home games at UAB's PNC Field (originally BBVA Compass Field, later BBVA Field) in 2015. Prior to this, the Blazers played at their old venue, West Campus Field.

Since 1993, the men's team has won nearly 80% of its games played at West Campus Field. UAB has frequently been among the national leaders in soccer attendance, finishing as high as 16th nationally in average attendance. The highest attended home soccer game in UAB history came in 2011 when 3,141 fans saw the Blazers defeat Clemson 2–1.

Fans

Although many traditions, cheers, and chants take place at each home game, there is one that "stands above the rest," according to former head coach Mike Getman. Led by alumni super-fan Andrew Robillard, who has not missed a UAB men's home soccer match in 22 seasons, the whole student section sings "God Bless America" in unity. The Hillsborough Times has reported this tradition as one of its "12 College Sports Traditions you Don't Want to Miss."

Notable alumni

• Dejan Jakovic
• Babayele Sodade
• Lars Willemse
• Tony McManus
• Jerson Monteiro
• Carl Woszczynski
• Ian Svantesson
• Michal Mravec
• Jason McLaughlin
• Alex Clay
• Sandy Gbandi
• Stuart Schulman
• Jose Luis Rayo
• Ivan Piola

Titles

Conferences

; Great Midwest Conference

• Tournament (1): 1994
• Regular season (1): 1994

; Conference USA

• Tournament (1): 1999
• Regular season (3): 1995, 1999, 2011

References

References

1. (April 6, 2022). "Sun Belt Conference Announces Return of Men's Soccer This Fall". Sun Belt Conference.
2. (October 21, 2021). "American Athletic Conference Announces the Addition of Six Universities". American Athletic Conference.
3. (May 4, 2022). "American Announces Affiliate Members in Men's Soccer and Women's Swimming and Diving". American Athletic Conference.
4. "$1.5 million BBVA Compass gift supports on-campus soccer facility at UAB".