HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University men's soccer sent its five senior players out the right way Saturday night.

In its final regular season home game, Marshall held off UAB, 3-2, at Sam Hood Field with a near-capacity crowd of 703 in the stands.

Marshall (10-6-1 overall, 6-2-0 Conference USA posted an impressive victory against UAB, which was ranked 16th in the nation. The Blazers fell to 12-4-1 and 5-2-1.

The teams will be paired up again in the C-USA tournament that begins for four squads Friday at Tulsa, the No. 1 seed. Marshall and UAB are seeded second and third respectively. C-USA affiliate men's soccer member Kentucky is the fourth seed.

"They came in on a hot streak," Marshall coach Bob Gray said. "Now we have turn around and play them next week and I am sure they will be fired up to play us. We took it to them. We weren't expected to win this game, and I am really happy with the result."

Tulsa (11-4-2, 6-1-1) won Saturday at UCF, 6-2, to secure the top seed and serve as host of the C-USA Final Four.

Gray said the only tournament objective is winning.

"Our guys are excited," he said. "In the preseason, if you would have taken a poll within the conference of who is going to the final four we would have received one vote, us voting for ourselves."

The Thundering Herd built a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by Dustin Dawes and J.D. Kepler.

"How poetic was that?," Gray said. "It was great getting those two goals from seniors, especially J.D., because that was his first goal of the year. It was a good night for our seniors, they have been solid contributors."

But, UAB drew close on Kevin Sawchak's goal in the 81st minute.

Tom Jackson answered for Marshall in the 87th minute on a shot past the out-stretched arms of Blazers goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski. The Blazers answered again, cutting the deficit to one goal when Kofi Gyawu scored from six yards out.

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