JACK ALLEN SOCCER COMPLEX, DECATUR, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer program came up short in the 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship match on Monday, Dec. 5, falling to Bethel University (Ind.), 3-1. The runner-up finish is the second-straight for Mobile as the Rams fell 2-0 in the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Final to Keiser University last season. Overall, the appearance in this season's championship final is the sixth in program history for UM Men's Soccer, with Mobile claiming their lone national title victory in 2002. This season's runner-up finish is the 17th total in the history of the University of Mobile Athletic Department.
How It Happened
On a very rainy and cold afternoon in Decatur, Ala., the No. 3 seed of Mobile and No. 4 seed of Bethel (Ind.) met on the turf field at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex for just the third time in history. Mobile and Bethel's previous two meetings came during the 2006 and 2010 seasons, with Mobile coming out victorious in both matchups. On Monday, however, Bethel got the better of the Rams for the Pilots' first NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Title in program history.
With rain falling from the sky throughout the entirety of the match, Bethel started the match with an aggressive approach, controlling possession of the ball and keeping Mobile pinned deep on their side of the field. Eventually, Bethel's Luan Bressy scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season in the time span of three minutes to put the Pilots up 2-0 in the 15th minute. Monday's contest was the second time all season in which Mobile trailed by two goals, with the first occurring in the Southern States Conference Tournament Final to Life University in November.
The Rams recorded their first shot on goal at the 26:10 mark of the match as Lucas Ros' shot was saved by the Bethel goalkeeper, Finn Popescu. Back-to-back corner kicks by Mobile enabled Sebastian Jorgge to threaten with a score, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar. Later, a Jorgge free kick from 30 yards out at 36:55 was saved by Popescu and the Rams went to halftime trailing Bethel, 2-0. At the intermission, Bethel led 5-4 in total shots, while both teams were tied with a pair of shots on goal. Mobile led 2-1 in corner kicks taken and neither team was called for offside in the period.
In the second half, just the second shot taken by Bethel gave the Pilots a 3-0 advantage as Piero Sabroso notched the goal in the 54th minute. Today's championship match was the first time all season that the Rams trailed by three goals. Later in the second half, Mobile earned a penalty kick in the 57th minute as Sebastian Jorgge stepped up to ball. Jorgge's attempt into the left netting put Mobile on the scoreboard as the Bethel keeper dove to the opposite direction. With the score sitting at 3-1, Mobile's urgency picked up as time continued to tick off the clock.
Later, Mobile goalkeeper Ty Turner went to clear the ball away as Bethel approached the box, but Turner made contact with Bethel's Andre Sabino, and was ultimately called for a foul, allowing the Pilots a penalty kick. Attempting to go up three goals late in the second half, Turner made up for the foul with an impressive diving save to preserve the 3-1 count with 18 minutes to go. No offensive chances were taken by either team in the next 11 minutes as the heaviest rainfall began to fall on the pitch. Turner later picked up his second incredible save at 82:33, rejecting Luan Bressy's fourth attempt of the match. Mobile's last gasp came on a corner kick in the 89th minute where Angel Almiron flicked the ball off his head, but was saved by Popescu. From there, Bethel came away victorious, handing Mobile their second straight runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championship.
In the championship final, both teams finished with 11 shots each and five shots on goal. Ty Turner collected two saves, giving him 13 total through three matches in Decatur, while Sebastian Jorgge picked up his fourth goal of the tournament.
NAIA Runner-Up Awards / All-Tournament Team
Following the championship final on Monday, the NAIA, Championship Tournament Committee, and Decatur Morgan County Sports Tourism awarded each member of the University of Mobile Men's Soccer roster and coaching staff plaques for their outstanding 2022 season. Mobile Head Coach Daniel Whelan and the captains of Mobile were then awarded the 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Runner-Up trophy.
Later, the NAIA and Championship Tournament Committee announced the 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer All-Tournament team, which saw three members of the Mobile roster earn spots on the team. Midfielder Sebastian Jorgge, forward Lucas Ros, and defender Angel Almiron were named NAIA Men's Soccer All-Tournament selections this season for their outstanding performances in this year's tournament. For Almiron, it is the second-straight season that the Mobile captain was selected to the all-tournament team. Jorgge finished with four goals scored in the tournament, while Ros came away with his team-leading 14th goal of the year.
With the 2022 season officially completed, the 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Tournament appearance marked the 22nd time in program history that the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team earned a place in the tournament field and the fifth where the Rams were led by ninth-year head coach Daniel Whelan. Following the tournament this season, Mobile now has a 37-21-4 all-time record in the tournament. Mobile finishes the 2022 season with a 18-4-1 overall record.
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.
