Box Score COLUMBIA, Ky. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer team, led by Head Coach Daniel Whelan who enters his eighth season with the program, traveled to Columbia, Ky. on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 for a NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 showdown against Lindsey Wilson College to begin the 2021 season. Mobile managed to upset the Blue Raiders in the season opener, taking the match, 3-1. However, many Rams believe they were under-ranked by the NAIA to start the season and would not classify Saturday's win as an upset.
Entering Saturday night's match, the Rams were ranked No 18 in the NAIA Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' poll. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson were ranked No. 12 in the same poll. At the start of the match, Mobile wasted no time by quieting the home crowd in Columbia by hitting the scoreboard first in the seventh minute. Zacharia Hasler notched his first goal of the season and the first goal for Mobile on the year. From there, both teams had chances in the first half, but failed to score and went to the half with the score in favor of the Rams, 1-0.
In the second half, Mobile scored an insurance goal in the 75th minute to go up 2-0 over Lindsey Wilson. Rodrigo Paredes scored his first goal as a Ram and Alejandro Lozano was credited with the assist. However, just eight minutes later, the Blue Raiders made it a one-goal match with a goal of their own in the 83rd minute.
The Rams answered back just 40 seconds later to go up 3-1 with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. Joshua Bynoe scored his first goal of the season to give the Rams a massive confidence boost as the match continued to wind down. Jose Reis and Sebastian Jorgge was credited with the double-assist on Mobile's third goal. From there, the score held up and Mobile came away with the big road victory over No. 12 Lindsey Wilson to start the season.
Although Mobile saw three different players notch their first goals of the season, the Rams saw a very impressive performance by senior goalkeeper Antoine Bedos who became the story of the night. Lindsey Wilson out-shot Mobile 23-12 in the match, but Bedos recorded a career-high 12 saves in the victory for Mobile, allowing just one late goal to the No. 12 team in the nation.
Mobile has a long, happy bus ride home from Columbia, Ky., but will now turn their attention towards the second match on the 2021 schedule, which happens to be against tougher competition. The No. 18 Rams will host No. 5 Keiser University in Mobile for their first home match of the season on Aug. 27. The Rams are in search for revenge as Keiser eliminated Mobile in the NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round last season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
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.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
