Nov. 6, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 14th-ranked UAB men's soccer team will travel to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in the regular-season finale for both teams. Should the Blazers (12-3-1, 5-1-1 C-USA) win, they will clinch at least a share of the 2009 Conference USA regular-season championship.

UAB, currently tied for first in the latest C-USA standings with Tulsa, would host the 2009 C-USA Championship with a victory at Marshall coupled with a Golden Hurricane tie or loss in their regular-season finale at UCF Saturday night in Orlando, Fla. If UAB and Tulsa are both victorious, the two teams would be co-champions, but Tulsa would host the conference tournament as a result of its victory over UAB earlier this season.

UAB comes into the final regular-season match on quite a hot streak. With the 1-0 victory at Alabama A&M last Sunday, the Blazers improved their streak to only one loss over their last 12 matches (10-1-1). The only two blemishes over the stretch of games came against ranked opponents (a loss at then-No. 20 Tulsa and a tie vs. then-No. 23 Drake).

Leading the way for the Blazers this season are forwards Babayele Sodade and Kofi Gyawu, who have combined for 13 of the team's 29 goals on the year. Sodade leads the team with seven goals, four assists and 18 points. He also has team-highs of 50 shots and 25 shots on goal. Gyawu is second on the team in goals (6) and points (14). Senior Two-Boys Gumede shares the team lead in assists with four and is third on the team with 12 points (4g, 4a) on the campaign.

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski has been impressive in goal through UAB's 16 games on the year. The Columbus, Ind. native has allowed only 12 goals this season and recorded seven shutouts on his way to a 12-3-1 mark. Woszczynski, who has played nearly every minute in goal this season, has a 0.76 GAA. That number not only ranks the best in the league, but it would also stand as the lowest GAA in a season in UAB lore.

Entering the Marshall game, Woszczynski's name is found at the top of the leaders in the latest C-USA statistics. He currently ranks first in the league in shutouts (7) and goals allowed average (0.76), and second in save percentage (.818) and shutout percentage (0.44).

Marshall enters the contest sporting a 9-6-1 overall record and a 5-2 mark in league play. The Thundering Herd owns a 5-1 mark in home contests this season, with the lone loss coming in its previous home contest against Tulsa (2-1 on Oct. 25).

The Herd will be led by senior Dustin Dawes, who tops the team in goals (6), game-winning goals (4), points (14), shots (34) and shots on goal (15). Freshman forward Tom Jackson, who joined the team six games into the season, has been a nice offensive compliment to Dawes. Jackson is second on the team with four goals and nine points in the 10 games he has played. Junior midfielder Matt Butler also has nine points on three goals and a team-best three assists this season.

Freshman goalkeeper Daniel Withrow has played in 13 of Marshall's 16 contests this season. He owns a goals against average of 0.98 this season, which ranks fourth in the league. He has made 56 saves this season, while allowing 12 goals, and has a save percentage of .824.

The Blazers-Thundering Herd match can be followed live on Gametracker live stats and All-Access streaming video at uabsports.com.