Men's Soccer Set to Compete at Lipscomb Invite This Weekend
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - The Belmont men's soccer team returns to Nashville this weekend to compete in the Hyatt Place Select/Lipscomb Invitational on Friday and Sunday. The Bruins open the tournament against UAB on Friday at 3:00 p.m. before taking on UNC Asheville on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
The Bruins have yet to beat UAB in three contests, but have an even record against UNC Asheville. Belmont hasn't played against the Blazers since 1999, but competed with the Bulldogs as recently as last season, when UNC Asheville came out on top, 2-1 in double overtime. The last Bruin victory over UNC Asheville came in the 2006 season when BU topped the Bulldogs 3-0 at home.
UAB has opened the 2010 season 3-1-0, with the only loss coming at #2 defending National Champion Virginia on September 3. The Blazers have defeated Virginia Tech, Charlotte and A-Sun opponent North Florida. In the most recent NSCAA rankings, UAB was tabbed fourth in the Midwest Region, and received 18 votes in the national poll. Junior Babayele Sodade leads the Blazers with four goals this season.
UNC Asheville has begun this season 2-1 with a pair of 3-0 victories over Eastern Illinois and Brevard. The Bulldogs' lone loss was against IUPUI to open the year. Jake Hagedorn leads UNC Asheville with three goals in 2010, while Connor Holzinger has tallied one goal and a team high three assists.
After winning the Mafiaoza's Invitational with a 2-0 home mark last weekend, Belmont dropped under .500 with a 4-1 loss at Evansville on Wednesday. Freshman Nico Olsak scored the first goal of his career, receiving an assist from sophomore Brandon Tarr on the Bruins' only goal of the match. BU will look to get back to an even record against the tough UAB squad on Friday.
Tarr, who earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors for his performance at the Mafiaoza's Invitational, sat down with Patrick McCoy of the conference office to talk about his play and Belmont's season thus far. You can hear the entire interview by clicking the link below.
Brandon Tarr's Atlantic Sun Interview
Belmont will next finish off the road trip with a match at Duquesne on September 25 at 6:00 p.m. The Bruins will then return home to host Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast in the first Atlantic Sun matches of the year. The Hatters come to Nashville on October 1 for a 3:00 p.m. match, before the Eagles come to town to challenge BU on October 3 at 12:05 p.m.
