SATSUMA, Ala. - The 2022 University of Mobile Men's Soccer team returned to the pitch on Friday evening, Aug. 19 with a non-conference matchup against LSU-Shreveport (La.) to begin the 2022 season. Mobile enters the season as the No. 2 team in the NAIA after finishing as the runner-up in the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. Mobile and LSU-Shreveport, who is currently receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 poll, finished with a 2-2 draw on Friday at Satsuma High School in Satsuma, Ala.
Heavy rain forecasted all weekend in the Mobile, Ala. area forced ninth-year head coach at Mobile, Daniel Whelan, to change the location from the Jungle at UM to Satsuma High School who recently added a turf field to their complex. Turf fields are notoriously better at receiving rainfall than grass surfaces and with Mobile welcoming four NAIA teams for four matches from Friday-Sunday, it was an easy decision for Whelan after Satsuma High School agreed to host.
Bynoe For Two, LSU-Shreveport (La.) Forces Tie
In Friday's match against LSU-Shreveport, Mobile controlled possession of the ball quite often in the first half of the game, eventually hitting the scoreboard in the 39th minute. Joshua Bynoe scored his first goal of the season following a beautiful header pass by Angel Almiron off a corner kick from Sebastian Jorgge. Both Almiron and Jorgge were credited with a double-assist. The Rams took a 1-0 lead to the break.
In the second half, LSU-Shreveport came out of halftime with more aggression and ended up scoring an equalizing goal in the 53rd minute following a deflection save from Mobile starting goalkeeper Ty Turner. Just seven minutes later, the Pilots took the lead in the 60th minute, putting Mobile on upset alert.
The Rams continued to play their game throughout the final 20 minutes, but a sense of urgency became noticeable from a few Mobile players on the field. With 10 minutes left in the game, Mobile newcomer Chiedu Ikeme connected with Joshua Bynoe to score the equalizing goal and avoid a potential upset loss at the hands of LSU-Shreveport. Bynoe's goal was his second on the night, while Ikeme picks up his first assist as a Ram.
The match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation due to the NAIA passing a new rule prior to this season stating that all regular season matches that end the regulation time limit in a tie will be counted as a draw. There will be no overtime for regular season matches in NAIA soccer. Only postseason matches will see overtime.
In the tie, Mobile out-shot LSU-S 18-8, with six shots being on-goal. Junior Ty Turner collected one save on the night for Mobile, as Joshua Bynoe's two goals kept the Rams in the match. Bynoe was second on the team during the 2021 season with 14 goals scored.
Rams Return on Saturday
Following the 2-2 tie with LSU-Shreveport, the Rams have a quick turnaround as Mobile will face Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) on Saturday night, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be played at Satsuma High School as Mobile faces Embry-Riddle for the first time in history.
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.
