HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer team, who was ranked as the No. 4 team in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll that was released yesterday, defeated No. 11 William Carey 1-0 on Thursday night to conclude the 2021 regular season schedule and claim the 2021 SSAC Men's Soccer Regular Season Championship. The win earns the Rams the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SSAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament which will award them a first-round BYE. The Rams' last SSAC Men's Soccer Regular Season Championship came in 2019 while Mobile's last conference tournament was won in 2017.
With the win on Thursday, Mobile finishes their 2021 regular season with a 14-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 conference record. The Rams extended their winning streak to 13 matches following the victory, not having lost a match since Aug. 27. Mobile fell to the now No. 5 ranked Keiser Seahawks in August for the Rams' lone loss on the season.
In Thursday night's win, Mobile controlled possession of the ball for much of the match, forcing William Carey to play on their heels on the defensive side. After a scoreless first half in Hattiesburg, Mobile finally hit the scoreboard with the lone goal of the match in the 66th minute following a goal from Alejo Binaghi. Sebastian Jorgge was credited with the assist.
For Binaghi, his goal on Thursday extends his scoring streak to eight matches and gives him a total of 20 goals scored on the season. That number ties him for the league lead in the NAIA in goals scored while also tying him in points scored in the NAIA following Thursday's match. Binaghi is a four-time SSAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week this season and was just named the NAIA Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
In Mobile's 1-0 win, the Rams out-shot the Crusaders, 19-14. Both teams took 11 shots in the second half. Mobile's starting goalkeeper Antoine Bedos was lights out, recording six saves in the shutout win.
Mobile will await the winner of the No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed match in the opening round of the SSAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament and will return to action in the semifinals of the tournament on Nov. 10 at the Emory-Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala. A time will be announced later.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
