MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The University of Mobile Women's Soccer team saw their 2022 season come to an end on Thursday evening, Nov. 3 with a 1-0 loss to Faulkner University in the first round of the SSAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. Mobile earned the No. 5 seed of the conference tournament, thus playing on the road on Thursday versus the fourth-seeded Eagles of Faulkner. Mobile's postseason defeat ends the Rams' 2022 season with a winning record of 8-7-2, with many encouraging signs for the future shown throughout the season.
Rams Fail to Overcome Early First Half Goal
With a spot in the semifinals on the line on Thursday evening, the Faulkner Eagles hosted Mobile and scored early in the 19th minute to go up, 1-0. The early Eagles goal eventually held and was the lone goal recorded in the match, but not before the Rams made things interesting in the second half.
Mobile faced adversity through the first 45 minutes as the Rams were out-shot 11-2 in the first half. However, adjustments at halftime gave Mobile some momentum and allowed the Rams to control the ball more consistently in the second half, eventually out-shooting the Eagles, 12-4.
Mobile finished the match with 14 shots total, seven being recorded on goal, but could not push across the equalizer. With just under a minute remaining in regulation, Mobile's Carolina Martins Gomes took a deep shot from outside the Faulkner box that was on target, but saw a great save by Faulkner's goalkeeper Keila Cardeiro keep the Eagles out front and eventually led to the Faulkner victory.
Mobile's goalkeeper Juliana Gomez kept her team in the match while facing 15 Faulkner shots and notching six saves. Martins Gomes and Raegan Latiolais led the Rams with four shots each, with two of Martins Gomes' shots being on goal.
Encouraging 2022 Season
Following a rough 2021 season that saw the Rams finish with a 4-12-2 overall record, this year's Mobile team led by head coach Brian Person turned the page from last year and surprised many involved in NAIA Soccer by doubling the win total from just one season ago and finishing the season with a winning record. Although Mobile struggled to finish this season strong by recording a five-match losing skid, the Rams began the season with an impressive 8-2-2 record.
Individually on the season, newcomers on this year's team led the way. Transfer Sophie Roberts notched a team-high 14 goals in 14 matches played, while freshman Raegan Latiolais finished with eight goals on the season. Additionally, graduate transfer Carolina Martins Gomes tallied seven goals and freshman Olivia Quiroz ended the year with six scores. As a team, Mobile tallied 53 goals and 30 assists during the 2022 season, with Martins Gomes leading the team with seven assists and Mia Mugford notching six assists.
In the net, Juliana Gomez recorded a team-high 58 saves in 11 matches played. Gomez started 10 of her 11 matches played, while Ebba Elweroth started seven matches and finished with 36 saves on the year. Both Mobile goalkeepers finished with save percentages in the .700s
With the 2022 season now concluded, the UM Women's Soccer team will look ahead to the offseason with preparations for the 2023 season on the horizon.
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.
