Freddy Ruiz’s goal off a rebound in the 71st propels Blazers to victory
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 21 UAB (7-4-1, 2-1 C-USA) scored in the 71st minute and made it stand up with a save with 90 seoconds left to take a 1-0 win over South Carolina (6-6, 1-2 C-USA) on Saturday night at Stone Stadium.
On a counter attack after clearing a Gamecock corner kick try, Lars Willemse worked past the Gamecock defense and goalkeeper and fired from the right wing, bouncing a shot off the left post. Freddy Ruiz, the Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, got to the rebound and fired it into the net for UAB’s only goal and his sixth of the year.
Three minutes after the UAB goal, junior Ryan Arambula had his header of a Gamecock corner kick go right to UAB goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky. The Blazers used offsides calls as a way to shave time off the clock, being whistled six times on the night, three times in the final 11 minutes.
With 90 seconds left, the Gamecocks had their best look at goal all night. Sophomore midfielder Kurtis Turner fired a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that Kuzminsky blocked away. The rebound went to junior midfielder Jeffrey Torda, but his touch from inside the six sent the ball over the crossbar, ending South Carolina’s chances.
The Blazers nearly took the lead in the 49th on a free kick. DeAndre Robinson tried to wrap one past the wall from just outside the penalty box, but Gamecock sophomore goalkeeper Marco Velez dove to his left and made the grab. South Carolina had a chance in the 56th, when senior defenders Mahamoudou Kaba and Braeden Troyer played up on a corner kick. Troyer redirected the clearance attempt to Kaba at the six, but the shot missed high.
Both teams had four shots in the first half, with the Gamecocks recording the only one taken on goal in the 17th minute by sophomore midfielder Kurtis Turner from outside the 18. Ruiz had a shot from the corner of the 6 miss wide after a give and go 10 minutes into play.
Game Changer:
One counter is all it took for UAB to capitalize and capture a road win in C-USA play.
Key Stat:
South Carolina took nine shots in the second half, two stopped by Joe Kuzminsky, including the last in the 89th minute.
