Men's Soccer Drops Conference Opener

Sept. 12, 1999

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

The Marquette men?s soccer team fell to 0-4 this afternoon with a 2-1 loss to UAB in both teams? Conference USA opener. For the second game in a row, Marquette controlled play, however trying to come back from a two-goal deficit proved to steep a challenge for the Golden Eagles.

?(UAB) scored two goals in the game?s first 15 minutes and then didn?t get a shot off the rest of the game,? Marquette head coach Steve Adlard said. ?We then settled down and earned a lot of chances, but (UAB keeper) David Clemente played well and made several good saves.?

The Blazers were staked to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Roberto Najarro and Preseason All-C-USA pick Peter Byaruhanga in the opening minutes of action. Soon thereafter, Adlard made a key substitution, inserting freshman Steve Lawrence into the lineup at sweeper.

?Lawrence played very well at sweeper and looked comfortable out there,? Adlard said. ?We?re still learning how to play with each other, but we were a team today. We?re starting to see a lineup that can find success come to the forefront.?

UAB took that 2-0 lead into the break, but had to fend off a hard-charging MU squad for the remainder of the afternoon. Marshall Morehead cut the lead in half with his first goal of the season early in the second frame. The junior striker netted an 18-yarder at the 56:47 mark. Marquette could not get any shots past Clemente for the remainder of the game however, and come away with an 0-1 C-USA mark.

?We?re improving, and we?re going to start to make some things happen,? Adlard said. ?I don?t feel badly, because there is talent here and we are going to be a good team.?

The Golden Eagles return to Milwaukee for a ?road? game against UW-Milwaukee on Wed., Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. (CT) at Uihlein Field. The game was originally scheduled to be played on the UWM campus at 4 p.m. On Engelmann Field.

GAME RECAP

UAB 2, Marquette 1

Marquette 0 1 1

UAB 2 0 2

First Half: 1, UAB, Najarro (Rey) 12:22, 2, UAB, Byaruhanga (Spillman) 13:55.

Second Half: 3, MU, Morehead 56:47

Shots: Marquette 12, UAB 4

Corners: Marquette 4, UAB 5

Saves: Marquette 2 (Schramm 2), UAB 6 (Clemente 6)

Fouls: Marquette 11, UAB 9

Att.: 115