2019 UAB MENS SOCCER 2019 UAB MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE NEW ERA IN BIRMINGHAM The newley rennovated BBVA Field features an additional 5,000 seat grandstand and now has a capacity of nearly 6,000 making it one of the largest collegiate soccer stadiums in the country. The 2019 season marks the beginning of a new era for UAB men’s soccer. A new head coach, new student-athletes and a newly renovated BBVA Field. First-year head coach Jeff Kinney looks to get the Blazers back into the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2014. Kinney is no stranger to the College Cup; the former Virginia Tech assistant led the Hokies to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances including trips to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. He also took his alma mater American University to the big dance in 2004, his first year as an assistant coach. “One thing I believe more than anything else is that if you do all the little things right that will lead to the big things that will lead to the results,” said Kinney. “How we bring in that culture here is by doing all the things right off the field and doing all the things right in training so that when we get into match day, everything we prepared for will lead us in the right direction.” UAB will showcase 15 new faces this season, including seven transfers and eight freshmen. The new squad will feature 17 returners with six seniors and 2018 Conference USA All-Freshman Team honoree Blake White on the field for the Blazers. “We brought in several transfers because we were looking for some maturity. A lot of these players already have one or two years of college soccer under their belt,” Kinney says. “Our international players bring in a different level of experience as well. Players tend to be a little more mature over there because they have been in professional environments. It is a well-rounded group we think will help us succeed early, hopefully building onto what this current group has already created.” With a new coach and a new team comes a newly renovated home. BBVA Field saw major upgrades in the offseason highlighted by the 5,000-seat grandstand, which increased the overall stadium capacity to 6,000. A brand new 18x32.5 feet video board captures eyes in the West end of the stadium. “I feel very fortunate to be able to open my head coaching career on that field, not a lot of people get that opportunity. Any time you can build an environment that is exciting for fans, friends, alum, and players like they are doing here at UAB, you have everything you need to be successful in the long-term.” @UAB_MSOC 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS UABSports.com TABLE OF CONTENTS NEW ERA IN BIRMINGHAM ................................... 2 Diego Khayat .......................................................................... 23 Quick Facts ............................................................ 4 Brandon Core ......................................................................... 23 Athletic Communications .................................... 5 Chase Rushing ....................................................................... 24 Staff...................................................................6-10 Teodor Thorvaldsen ............................................................. 24 Grayson DuPont .................................................................... 25 Jeff Kinney ..................................................................................7 Raphael Da Silva .................................................................... 25 Kris Hazard .................................................................................8 Brooks Stockley ..................................................................... 26 Joel Wallace ................................................................................8 Alex Estravi .............................................................................. 26 Mark Ward ..................................................................................9 Ethan Gamero ........................................................................ 27 Support Staff .............................................................................9 Willsey League ....................................................................... 27 Blazers ............................................................10-36 DJ Lynch ................................................................................... 28 Team Breakdown ............................................................11-12 Alexandre Ricourt ................................................................. 28 Sam Hendrix ........................................................................... 13 Julian Mehl .............................................................................. 13 Opponents .....................................................29-39 Quick Facts ........................................................................30-34 Seth Torman ............................................................................ 14 Records ...............................................................................35-39 Joseph Buete .......................................................................... 14 Sumner Richardson .............................................................. 15 2018 Review ...................................................40-41 Jake Futrell .............................................................................. 15 History and Records ......................................42-66 Brooks Rice .............................................................................. 16 Individual Season ...........................................................43-45 Chandler Shirley .................................................................... 16 Individual Career .............................................................46-47 Kevin Wallace.......................................................................... 17 Honors and Awards ........................................................47-53 DJ Benton ................................................................................ 17 Year-By-Year Summary ..................................................54-55 Adam Brooker ........................................................................ 18 NCAA Tournament Teams .................................................. 56 Blake White ............................................................................. 18 Post Season History ............................................................. 57 Trey Nelson.............................................................................. 19 Soccer for a Cure .............................................................58-59 Aidan O’Hara .......................................................................... 19 Year-By-Year Results .......................................................60-64 Nathaniel St. Louis ................................................................ 20 Letterwinners ...................................................................65-66 Guillermo Rodriguez ........................................................... 20 WinAsONE ......................................................67-69 Donovan Watson................................................................... 21 UAB Administration ............................................................. 68 Krenar Krasniqi ....................................................................... 21 UAB Head Coaches ............................................................... 69 Chris Reichman ...................................................................... 22 Radio/TV Roster .................................................. 70 Edgard Gamboa .................................................................... 22 The 2019 UAB men’s soccer media guide is a Please use the following logos when publishing publication of the UAB Athletic Communications content about UAB Athletics: Department. This guide was designed, compiled, written and edited by Katie Moseley. Special editorial assistance was provided by Ted Feeley, Abby Vinson, Nicole Leighty and all former UAB men’s soccer contacts. Photography was provided by Jimmy Mitchell, Michael Wade, Kamp Fender, Steve Wood and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. About Our Name The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been an autonomous member of the University of Alabama sys- tem since 1969 and has had an intercollegiate athletic program since 1977. In addition, the UAB name is often altered by various media, opponents, merchandisers, etc. Please note that there are only two correct versions of our name, the acronym “UAB” or the full “University of Alabama at Birmingham.” We Are: UAB or The University of Alabama at Birmingham We are not: Alabama-Birmingham, Ala.-Birmingham, UA-Birmingham or U.A.B 3 #WinAsONE 2019 UAB MEN’S SOCCER MEDIA GUIDE QUICK FACTS General 2019 Schedule School .......................................................................................... UAB Date Opponent Time Location Location ............................................................ Birmingham, Ala. 8/16 Milligan (Exh.) 5 p.m. BBVA Field Founded ....................................................................................1969 8/24 at Louisville (Exh.) 6 p.m. Lousiville, Ky. Enrollment ............................................................................ 22,080 8/30 at Marquette 7 p.m. Milwaukee, Wisc. President ....................................................................Dr. Ray Watts