JACK ALLEN SOCCER COMPLEX - DECATUR, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer program faced off against the Keiser University Seahawks in the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Match on Monday, Dec. 6 in Decatur, Ala. and fell to the Seahawks 2-0 on Monday evening. Mobile's fifth appearance in the championship match in program history, and the first since 2012, did not end the way the Rams had hoped as the team earned a fourth runner-up finish in their five championship appearances. Mobile won their lone championship in 2002. With the loss on Monday, the Rams finish the 2021 season with an impressive 18-3-1 overall record.
Game Notes / Recap
- It was the fifth NAIA National Championship appearance for Rams (1994, 1999, 2002, 2012, and 2021) and first for the Seahawks.
- Mobile and Keiser met for the fifth time in the calendar year of 2021, with Keiser winning the last four, including today. Entering today, the overall series record was 4-3 in favor of the Seahawks.
- The first half was a drag out fight between teams who have become so familiar with each other over the last eight months.
- Mobile generated a higher number of shots (16-10), but Keiser put their attempts on frame more (6-4). The Seahawks took three more corner kicks than the opposition, a 6-4 differential.
- Alejo Binaghi launched a match-high five shots for the Rams and teammate Emman Rahimi had the second-most with three.
- The match was scoreless for 52 minutes before Keiser's Luca Malvicini put a shot into the far corner of the net for the first goal of the match.
- Keiser's Elias Jassim tacked on an insurance goal with seconds remaining after the Rams were pressing higher up the field in the closing minutes.
- Mobile had a chance to go ahead 1-0 in the 40th minute when Ronaldo Fortune worked around the goalkeeper to find an empty goal, but defender Cristobal Molina Campo saved the shot at the last second before it crossed the plain.
NAIA Runner-Up Awards / All-Tournament Team
Following the championship final, the NAIA and Championship Tournament Committee awarded each member of the University of Mobile Men's Soccer roster and coaching staff plaques for their outstanding season. Mobile Head Coach Daniel Whelan was then awarded the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Runner-Up trophy.
Later, the NAIA and Championship Tournament Committee announced the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer All-Tournament team which saw three Rams honored. Mobile saw forward Alejo Binaghi, defender Angel Almiron and midfielder Zacharia Hasler all earn a place on the all-tournament team following their performances at the final site of the tournament.
The 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Tournament appearance marked the 21st time in program history that the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team has earned a spot in the tournament and the fourth where the Rams were led by eighth-year head coach Daniel Whelan. Following the tournament this season, Mobile now has a 33-20-4 all-time record in the tournament.
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.
