Aug. 14, 2002

Men's Soccer Team Picked To Win Conference USA Championship Blazers have three players chosen preseason All-Conference

CHICAGO, Ill. ----- UAB, who returns 15 letterwinners and eight starters from a year ago, has been selected to win the 2002 regular season title in a vote taken by the league's 11 head coaches, Conference USA officials announced here Wednesday. The Blazers have made three consecutive NCAA appearances and won a pair of Conference USA titles in the league's short history.

"We are honored to have gained enough respect throughout Conference USA to have the other coaches pick us to win the Conference championship this season," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "However, the season record and outcome has to be decided on the field and we have a lot of work left to do."

In addition, UAB, which has never lost more than three conference matches in a season, had three players chosen as All-Conference selections - the most in school history. These players include senior forward Flavio Monteiro, who is a dynamic scorer that leads the Blazers offense, along with midfielder Marin Pusek. Both players were second team All-C-USA choices last fall. Goalkeeper Clint Baumstark earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors after posting a league-high nine shutouts to go along with a 0.96 GAA.

"These three players possess a lot of talent and deserve this recognition," said Getman. "I am pleased the other coaches have recognized them with this honor."

The Blazers open the regular season Saturday, August 31, in Irvine, Calif. against UC-Irvine. UAB's first home game will be Friday, September 6 when it plays host to crosstown rival Birmingham-Southern at 8 p.m. on West Campus Field.

2002 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jack Jewsbury, Sr., F/MF, Saint Louis

ALL-CONFERENCE

Clint Baumstark, So., GK, UAB Adrian Cann, Sr., D, Louisville Jason Cole, Sr., D, Saint Louis Derek Guttierrez, Jr., F/MF, Marquette Jack Jewsbury, Sr. F/MF, Saint Louis Mike Kirchoff, Sr., D, Saint Louis Steve Lawrence, Sr., D, Marquette Flavio Monteiro, Sr. F, UAB Mira Mupier, So., F, Charlotte Marin Pusek, Jr., MF, UAB Jeff Thwaites, Sr., MF, South Florida Jared Vock, So., D, South Florida

2002 C-USA PRESEASON POLL (as selected by C-USA coaches)

1. UAB

2. Saint Louis

3. South Florida

4. Marquette

5. Charlotte

6. Cincinnati

7. Louisville

8. Memphis

9. TCU

10. East Carolina

11. DePaul