JACK ALLEN SOCCER COMPLEX - DECATUR, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer team faced off against Columbia College (Mo.) in the semifinals of the 63rd Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship on Saturday evening, Dec. 4 with a spot in the national championship match on the line. Columbia entered as the No. 7 seed at the final site of the national tournament in Decatur, Ala. while Mobile was awarded the No. 3 seed. In Saturday's match, Mobile managed to outlast the Cougars of Columbia, winning the match 2-1 and advancing to the fifth national title match in program history. Mobile won their one and only national championship in 2002 over Park University and fell to West Virginia Wesleyan in the championship match in 1994, Lindsey Wilson in 1999 and Belhaven in the championship in 2012.
With the victory on Saturday, the Rams will take on the No. 5 seed Keiser University (Fla.) on Monday at 2:00 p.m. CT in Decatur. Keiser defeated the No. 1 seed Central Methodist University earlier on Saturday afternoon to advance to the national championship match. Mobile and Keiser are no strangers as the two teams have met a total of seven times in their history, four times over the last two seasons. Keiser eliminated Mobile from the opening round of the 2020 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship last season and defeated the Rams 1-0 earlier during the 2021 campaign in an early-season match that was played in September.
Keiser enters Monday with a 15-3-1 overall record. Meanwhile, Mobile now sits at 18-2-1 on the year and will look for revenge over the Seahawks of Keiser on Monday in the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. The national title match will air live on ESPN3.
Match Notes/Recap
In Saturday's semifinal match against Columbia College, Mobile got the scoring started in the 20th minute after Alejo Binaghi recorded his 24th goal of the season, and the third of the national tournament. Joshua Bynoe recorded the assist after a textbook cross to the 18-yard box to the opposite post gave Binaghi an easy touch in for the game's first goal. The Rams held a 1-0 lead at the half.
Just prior to 10 minutes gone in the second half, Columbia managed to score the equalizer at the top of the 18-yard box via a redirected ball. The tied contest held for the next 23 minutes until Mobile's Angel Almiron drew a corner kick. Sebastian Jorgge served up the corner and found the head of Rodrigo Paredes – who put it into the back of the net, giving the Rams the lead once again.
From there, Mobile would not concede any shots on goal as all three attempts by Columbia were blocked before making their way to Rams keeper Antoine Bedos, who mixed in one save in the win.
Columbia held a 7-4 margin in corner kicks taken, while Mobile out-shot the Cougars, 16-8. Columbia managed just two shots on goal in their eight taken. Meanwhile, the Rams posted nearly as many shots on goal (7) as Columbia had in total shots.
Mobile Head Coach Daniel Whelan Reacts
Following the win and the celebration Saturday evening, Mobile Head Coach Daniel Whelan, who is in his eighth season with the program, gave his reaction to Mobile's victory and shared his thoughts on what is ahead.
"Great game. Columbia has been here three years running, so we knew it was going to be really difficult," Whelan said. "Overall, I was really pleased with our performance tonight. I am delighted for the guys after all the hard work that they have put in all season".
On his thoughts about the upcoming national championship match and the preparation between Saturday and Monday for the Rams, Whelan said, "To still be playing in the last possible game is absolutely massive and a huge testament of the work they [Mobile] have put in all season. We have to recover, we have to eat well, we have to sleep as much as we can. We have a few guys banged up and I am sure Keiser does as well."
Whelan concluded saying, "It is just the case of trying to get the guys as healthy as possible for the quick turnaround on Monday."
The 63rd Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship is set for 2:00 p.m. CT on Monday, Dec. 6 at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Ala. and will be aired on ESPN3.
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.
