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UAB “Soccer For A Cure” Classic The 2011 season marks the 13th year of the UAB “Soccer For A Cure” Classic. This year, UAB plays host to UW-Milwaukee, Gardner-Webb and VCU, who are each making their first appearance in the event, on Friday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 18. “The ‘Soccer For A Cure Classic’ is always a great event and it will be no different this season,” UAB head coach Mike Getman said. “It’ll be four good teams and it may be the most competitive tournament we have ever hosted.” The 2011 season marks the fourth straight year that the tournament has been tabbed the “Soccer For A Cure” Classic. When the event first began in 2008, it was the first tournament of its kind in the nation. The event will raise money to help aid cancer victims through the sport of soccer. The money that is raised by the event will remain in Birmingham and be divided among cancer research facilities. Last year, the event raised several thousand dollars for families affected by cancer. This year’s event should be another exciting tournament, featuring three squads who each have a legitimate chance to earn a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament field. The highlight of this year’s tournament will certainly be the Blazers’ opening contest against VCU on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., which will pit mentor vs. pupil. Rams’ head coach Dave Giffard, who spent five seasons (2000-04) as an assistant coach under Blazers’ head coach Mike Getman at UAB, is now in his second season at VCU. Giffard brings seven starters and 12 letterwinners back from last season’s 8-5-6 team. Prior to the Blazers and Rams taking the pitch, the tournament will kick off with UW-Milwaukee facing Gardner-Webb at 5 p.m. It will mark the first appearance by GW at West Campus Field since taking on the Blazers in the opening round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs and Blazers tied that contest 1-1; however, Gardner-Webb advanced to the second round on penalty kicks. On the tournament’s final day, Gardner-Webb will square off against VCU at noon, followed by UAB taking on UW-Milwaukee in the Classic’s finale at 2:30 p.m. The Panthers return six started and 11 letterwinners from last season’s 6-103 squad. UAB captured the tournament title in 2010, marking the seventh time in the 13 years the Blazers have won the event. UAB has now won Classic titles in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010.
Classic Records GOALS Individual Game: 3, twice: Vicente Arze (Mercer) vs. B’Ham-Southern, 2006 David Sarabia (UMKC) vs. Memphis, 2009 Team: 8 by: Memphis (6) vs. North Florida, 2010 Teams Combined: 7, twice: UAB (3) vs. Tulsa (4), 1999 Memphis (4) vs. Drake (3), 2009 Tournament Combined: 18, twice: Last in 2010: (UAB 6, Memphis 6, Charlotte 5, UNF 1) ASSISTS Individual Game: 2, 16 times: Last by: Kevin Sawchak (UAB) vs. North Florida, 2010 Team: 7 by: Memphis vs. North Florida, 2010 Teams Combined: 7, three times: Last by: Memphis (7) vs. North Florida (0), 2010 Tournament Combined: 21 in 1999: (South Florida 7, Tulsa 6, Furman 5, UAB 3) SHOTS Individual Game: 10 by: Eric Lukin (UIC) vs. Charleston, 2000 Team: 33 by: UIC vs. Charleston, 2000 Teams Combined: 45 by: UNC Greensboro (26) vs. UAB (19), 2005 Tournament Combined: 141 in 2004: (Charlotte 41, UAB 40, BSC 29, WKU 33) SAVES Individual: 11, twice: Last by: Bobby Pipech (St. Francis [Pa.]) vs. UAB, 2003 Teams Combined: 20 by: USF vs. Furman, 1999
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