MSOC Wins Season Opener Against UAB in Double Overtime

MILWAUKEE —The Marquette University men's soccer team opened its 2019 season in thrilling fashion on Friday night at Valley Fields, defeating the UAB Blazers, 2-1.

The two teams were knotted at one apiece after 90 minutes of regulation and the game headed to overtime. In the 107^thminute, redshirt sophomore Manuel Cukaj scored the golden goal on a header off a free kick from Connor Alba to clinch the victory.

Manuel Cukaj heads in the game-winner in the 107th minute off a free kick from Connor Alba to give MU a 2-1 victory in the season opener.#WeAreMarquette | #MarquetteSoccer pic.twitter.com/GTI4Vuq4ko
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) August 31, 2019

The Golden Eagles outshot the Blazers 25 to 17 on the evening, with nine of those shots coming on net. MU keeper Jackson Weyman, a redshirt freshman out of Evanston, Illinois, saved five shots in his first collegiate start.

The first goal of the regular season at Valley Fields was scored by senior Connor Alba, who put a penalty kick in the back of the net in the 23^rd minute.

23'| Alba goes top left on the PK to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0!

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— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) August 31, 2019

MU outshot its opposition, 13-4, in the first 45 minutes and seemed to have all the momentum heading into the halftime intermission.

UAB came out hot in the second half, however, and Grayson Dupont put the Blazers on the board in the 47^th minute. He collected himself in the box and fired in a left-footed strike from 10 yards out to tie the game off a cross from teammate Chase Rushing.

The Blazers had a chance to take a lead midway through the second half, but keeper Jackson Weyman made an excellent save to tip a shot heading towards the top left corner over the net.

Weyman blocks a shot from UAB to keep the game tied at 1-1!

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— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) August 31, 2019

MU went on to win with Cukaj's header in the 107^th minute, which was his second career goal as a Golden Eagle and first since 2017 (he redshirted last year because of injury).

Now in his 14^th year as the head coach at MU, Louis Bennett's teams are unbeaten in the last eight home openers at Valley Fields dating back to 2011.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Senior Connor Alba: "We picked up the intensity later in the second half and overtime. We took our foot off the gas a bit in the beginning of the second half and they were able to get the equalizer. I'm happy we were able to get the win and now we just have to get back to work tomorrow and get ready for Sunday."

Sophomore Alan Salmeron: "It was a team effort for sure. It wasn't easy, but we pulled through. I thought we showed some good character tonight to pull this one out."

Head Coach Louis Bennett: "I thought in our second half we fought and kept after it. We didn't play our best soccer but we found a way to win. We had plenty of chances in the first half to be up by two or three goals, we just couldn't finish."

UP NEXT:
MU will take on UC Davis at Valley Fields on Sunday, Sept. 1 at noon. The match is the first of a doubleheader with the women's team, who takes on Michigan at 2:30 p.m.

Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).