Birmingham Southern Upsets #5 UAB.
Birmingham Southern beat a member of the national rankings for the first time since the school elevated its program to Division I in 2001. The Panthers had lost the last six meetings with UAB (6-1-2), dating back to a 4-1 victory on September 9, 1990.
“This was, by far, the biggest win in the history of Birmingham Southern soccer,” BSC coach Preston Goldfarb said. “The crowd was unbelievable. I’ve never seen this much support by the BSC students, alumni and fans in my 21 years coaching at this school. Without their support we would not have won the game.”
Dietz scored the game-winner when he took a pass from forward Jamie Holmes off a direct kick into the right side of the penalty area. Ten yards from goal, Dietz drilled his seventh goal past goalkeeper Alberto Robles to the far post for the 2-1 advantage with 82:19 elapsed.
BSC (6-1-2) nearly took the first lead in the 31st minute when Holmes put his head on a free kick, but Robles tipped the shot over the crossbar. Six minutes later, it was UAB which came close when forward Jerson Monteiro beat keeper Gavin Long with a shot off a corner kick, but Panthers defender Thimo Langner was there to clear the ball off the goal line.
UAB went ahead 1-0 after 51:19 when midfielder Rogerio Oliveira chipped the ball over the defense onto the foot of striker Lukasz Kwapisz in stride. Kwapisz poked a shot past Long.
The Panthers pulled even at 1-1 at the 58:03 mark when Dietz sent a corner kick to Holmes for a tying header.
The Blazers nearly regained the lead in the 69th minute when midfielder Nnamdi Ngwe was freed for a breakaway down the right flank, but he clanged a 15-yard shot off the crossbar.
“Tonight’s result was just a simple matter of Birmingham Southern outplaying us,” UAB coach Mike Getman said. “We had a tough time getting into a rhythm tonight. I am disappointed to lose such a big game but, in reality, it is very tough for a team to go undefeated throughout the season.”