JACK ALLEN SOCCER COMPLEX, DECATUR, Ala. - For the second-straight season, the University of Mobile Men's Soccer program advanced to the semifinals of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Tournament, defeating Missouri Valley College on Thursday night, Dec. 1 in the quarterfinals. Thursday's match between the No. 3 seed of Mobile and the sixth-seeded Vikings of Missouri Valley is just the third meeting all-time, with Missouri Valley holding a 2-0 record over Mobile entering Thursday. The last meeting between the two teams came during the 2019 NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament, with the Vikings defeating the Rams in the second round. On Thursday, Mobile got their revenge and bounced the Vikings of Missouri Valley from the tournament.
How It Happened
Mobile started Thursday's match strong, scoring the match's first goal just six minutes in. Senior Christopher McKenna received a header pass from Angel Almiron following a corner kick opportunity and saw his first shot blocked by the Missouri Valley goalkeeper. However, McKenna finished on the second chance effort to give the Rams a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
Mobile followed their hot start with their second goal of the match nine minutes later. Sebastian Jorgge took a free kick on the left wing and put the right amount of top spin on the ball to blast it into the side netting. Jorgge's goal gave the Rams a 2-0 lead as only three times all season had the Vikings of Missouri Valley conceded two goals in a match. In search of a break, Missouri Valley found one in the 23rd minute.
The Vikings managed to cut the deficit in the first half with 22 minutes to go in the half when Niall Rooney scored off assists by Conor Taylor and Sam Green. The first goal for Missouri Valley seemed to give the Vikings confidence as the team out-shot Mobile 6-3 in the first 45 minutes. Missouri Valley had a solid chance to tie the match before the intermission, but the header from Jacob Adams – off the free kick from Diego Blanco Alvarez – was saved by Mobile goalkeeper Ty Turner. Mobile took a 2-1 advantage to the break.
Four minutes into the second half, Mobile added an insurance goal with Sebastian Jorgge's second goal of the game, assisted by Chiedu Ikeme. Jorgge's two-goal night gives the junior seven total this season, with Thursday's match being just the second time this season Jorgge recorded multiple goals.
Needing a pair of goals to tie the contest, the Vikings narrowly missed out on a chance at the 59:05 time stamp. Missouri Valley's Conor Taylor fed the ball to the left side and Sam Green's attempt at the far post went a few feet long. Not resting on their two-goal lead, Mobile then continued attacking the Vikings, missing two close chances in the 78th minute. Later in the second half, Missouri Valley drew three consecutive corner kicks, all taken by Malik Hasanovikj, but were unable to generate any solid scoring chances. Following the defensive stops, Mobile went on the win the match 3-1 to advance to the semifinals.
The Rams took eight shots total in the full 90 minutes, with five being on frame. Missouri Valley recorded 15 shots, five being on target, as Mobile's Ty Turner came up with four big saves in the victory.
Mobile Head Coach Daniel Whelan
Following Thursday's win over Missouri Valley, ninth-year head coach Daniel Whelan was asked about Mobile's victory. "The two early goals really helped us settle down a little bit," Whelan said. However, after conceding the lone Missouri Valley goal, Whelan was not too impressed with the way his team finished the first half, but credited the defense on keeping the lead. "The lads defended brilliantly when they had too."
Following last year's deep run in the national tournament where the Rams finished as the runner-up in the title match, Whelan believes the experience last year helps this year's team. "I think it's given [the team] belief. We have been here before and we can do it again."
Semifinal Match Set for Saturday
Thursday's quarterfinal action saw two big upsets as the top two seeds of the tournament were eliminated. Mobile now resides as the highest remaining seed in the field and will face the No. 10 seed of Lindsey Wilson College in the semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Lindsey Wilson has managed a Cinderella run throughout this season's NAIA postseason, defeating the No. 7 seed of St. Thomas University and the No. 2 seed of Dalton State College in the time span of two days.
On Saturday, Mobile and Lindsey Wilson will meet for the 19th time in history, as Lindsey Wilson owns the series with a 11-8 record over the Rams. However, Mobile has defeated the Blue Raiders in the last two matches, with the last meeting coming early during the 2021 season where the Rams won 3-1 on Lindsey Wilson's home turf.
Saturday's semifinal match will be aired live on the NAIA Network at https://www.naia.org/sports/msoc/stretch_msoc.
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.
