MOBILE, Ala. - For the second-straight season, the University of Mobile Men's Soccer program, led by head coach Daniel Whelan, will be one of 10 teams competing in Decatur, Ala. for the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship red banner and trophy. On Thursday, Nov. 17, the Rams began the 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Tournament by winning a first-round matchup at home against UC-Merced (Cal.), 4-1. Mobile then followed with a 1-0 second-round victory at home over Warner Pacific University (Ore.) on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon on Nov. 19. The two wins this week earn Mobile a berth to the final site of the national title this year as the Rams return to Decatur, Ala. after finishing as the runner-up to Keiser University in the championship final last season.
Rams Punch Ticket to Decatur
Mobile and Warner Pacific, the top two seeds of the Mobile bracket, faced each other for the first time in history on Saturday afternoon, an afternoon that saw overcast skies, slight rain, and below average temperatures in the Mobile, Ala. area. After the two teams battled through a scoreless first half that saw Mobile out-shoot the Knights of Warner Pacific 7-1, the teams returned to the field with fresh legs in the second half. Finally after 69 scoreless minutes, it was Mobile who managed to hit the scoreboard in the 70th minute for the match's lone goal.
Senior defender Christopher McKenna notched just his second goal of the season to put the Rams ahead following a corner kick opportunity for Mobile. The Rams made several adjustments offensively at halftime, and kept the ball pinned deep into Warner Pacific territory for several minutes. Following the corner kick try by Jose Sanabria, the ball bounced around in the box off several defenders before McKenna managed to be in the right spot at the right time for the goal. From there, Mobile's defense stepped up as the Rams kept the Knights off the scoreboard for the remaining 20 minutes and won the second-round match, 1-0.
In the full 90 minutes, Mobile out-shot Warner Pacific, 13-6, with six of Mobile's 13 shots being on frame. Warner Pacific only took one shot that was on target. Ty Turner, the Rams' starting goalkeeper, earned the shutout win and notched one save in the second-round victory.
Decatur Bound
Mobile entered this year's NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament ranked No. 4 in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Coaches' Poll, but will likely earn the No. 3 seed in Decatur, Ala. after No. 3 Central Methodist was upset in the second round. The final site bracket and start times are TBD by the NAIA, with the tournament being held at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Ala. from Nov. 29 - Dec. 5.
Mobile will enter Decatur with a 16-3-1 overall record and will join fellow SSAC teams William Carey and Dalton State as three of the final 10 teams remaining in the NAIA.
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 information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
