BIRMINGHAM – UAB women’s soccer coach Erica Demers has released the Blazers’ 2021 schedule. The 17-game slate features three 2020 NCAA tournament teams, nine Conference USA matches and seven contests played at BBVA Field. Additionally, UAB will travel to Mississippi State for an exhibition match on Aug. 11.
“We always want to prepare our players for conference matches through our non-conference games and this schedule allows us to do just that,” said Demers.
Prior to competition, UAB will host “Kickin’ It With the Blazers” on Aug. 15, which is a free meet and greet with men’s and women’s soccer teams for fans 12 and under. The event will feature a soccer clinic, scrimmage alongside the Blazers and an autograph session.
The regular season begins with three road matches. On Aug. 19, UAB travels to Chattanooga followed by Kennesaw State on Aug. 21. On Aug. 26, the Blazers visit Samford.
The home opener is Aug. 29 against Arizona State. This marks the first match between UAB and a PAC-12 school and the second time in three seasons that the Blazers have hosted a school from the Power 5. The Sun Devils advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship last season.
The rivalry between UAB and Auburn is renewed this season. When the Blazers visit the Tigers on Sept. 2, it will mark the first time since 2018 that the two squads have met.
Mercer comes to BBVA Field on Sept. 5. The Blazers swept the Bears last season, winning 2-1 in Macon in the fall before another 2-1 victory at BBVA Field in the spring.
Defending SWAC champion and NCAA tournament participant Alabama State comes to BBVA Field on Sept. 10. Last season’s 8-1 victory in Montgomery was UAB’s highest goal output since Sept. 19, 2015 when the Blazers defeated Chattanooga 7-0. In two all-time matches against Alabama State, UAB has outscored ASU 13-1.
UAB’s fourth in-state opponent is Alabama on Sept. 12. in Tuscaloosa. The two schools meet for the first time since 2014. In the 15 matches played between the two squads, each team has won seven with one draw.
Conference USA play begins Sept. 16 against Louisiana Tech at BBVA Field. The Blazers have won three straight against the Lady Techsters dating back to 2018.
On Sept. 19, UAB travels to Norfolk, Va. to face Old Dominion. The Monarchs return First Team All-Conference USA selection Ece Turkoglu.
WKU comes to BBVA Field on Sept. 24. In three meetings in Birmingham, UAB holds a 2-0-1 advantage over the Hilltoppers. WKU returns reigning C-USA Player of the Year Ambere Barnett. This match is Youth Soccer Night, where fans 17 and under wearing a school or club shirt or jersey receive free admission to the contest.
The next two contests are on the road beginning with Southern Miss on Oct. 1. Ariel Diaz, the 2020 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, will return to the USM roster this season.
One week later, the Blazers visit defending C-USA Champion Rice on Oct. 8. The Owls are coming off a 14-3-1 season and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. Rice returns All-American Mijke Roelfsema, the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and Bella Killgore, the C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year.
North Texas comes to BBVA Field on Oct. 15. The Mean Green finished 2020 in second place in the C-USA West Division and return a pair of First Team All-Conference USA performers in Brooke Lampe and Allie Byrd. This match is the annual Bark in the Park event.
The last two road matches are against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 17 and UTSA on Oct. 22. The Blue Raiders return First Team All-Conference USA selection Peyton DePriest and the Roadrunners Third Team All-Conference USA selection Ellis Patterson.
The regular season ends on Oct. 28 at BBVA Field against UTEP. The all-time series is deadlocked at 6-6 with four draws. The Miners return a pair of all-conference performers in Cayman Tamez (All-Rookie, Third Team) and Tessa Carlin (Third Team).
The 2021 Conference USA Championship begins on Nov. 2 in Boca Raton, Fla. and will be hosted by FAU.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to play against some great programs and coaching staffs and push our players to do their best each day. We are extremely excited as a staff to get going this August,” added Demers.
Women’s soccer season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65 here. The 2021-22 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for Conference USA or NCAA Championship events.
For more information on the UAB women’s soccer team, follow @UAB_WSoc on Twitter and Instagram.
