JACKSON, Miss. - In a rare Sunday road match, the University of Mobile Women's Soccer team traveled to downtown Jackson, Miss. on Aug. 28 for a non-division match against Millsaps College (Miss.), a NCAA D-III member. Sunday's match between Mobile and Millsaps was the first-ever meeting between the two programs as the Rams came out strong, shutting out the Majors with a 4-0 victory. The win is Mobile's first of the 2022 season and advances their current record to 1-1-1.
Mobile 4, Millsaps 0
Sunday's match had a 5:00 p.m. CT kickoff on Sunday, and it was a steamy day on the turf field of Millsaps' athletic facility. Temperatures reached upwards of 97 degrees, not including humidity, with the sun shining most of the match. Referees informed both teams that water breaks will be issued during each half to keep players safe and hydrated.
Mobile Head Coach Brian Person made a couple of personnel changes to the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's match against Millsaps, awarding junior transfer Juliana Gomez her first start for Mobile in the net. Additionally, seven of Mobile's 11 starters were underclassmen.
Not long after the first whistle blew, Mobile was threatening early and eventually hit the scoreboard first following senior Mia Mugford's first goal of the season. Mugford scored in the seventh minute as freshman Olivia Quiroz was awarded the assist. Mugford is in the voting for the SSAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honor following a two-assist match in the Rams' 2-2 draw with Thomas (Ga.) on Friday, while adding her goal scored against Millsaps on Sunday.
Later in the first half, freshman Madison Beaver checked in and notched her first collegiate goal in the 41st minute. Beaver managed to break away from a couple of Millsaps defenders to go one-on-one with the Majors' goalkeeper. Beaver connected with the back of the net after her strike got past the gloves of the Millsaps keeper. From there, the Rams went to the half with a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Mobile hoped to add some insurance to their 2-0 lead. Millsaps made a couple of adjustments at the break and managed to threaten Mobile deep into their territory. So much so that Millsaps had three chances at a goal within a five-minute span. However, Juliana Gomez converted two huge saves for the Rams as the defensive back line for Mobile blocked another Millsaps shot near the net. After missing what seemed to be their only chance, Mobile began taking control of the remainder of the match.
In the 78th minute, Mobile's Carolina Martins Gomes placed a corner kick perfectly to the head of junior Madison Hager, who recorded Mobile's first header goal of the season. The goal for Hager is her first on the year as Martins Gomes earned the assist. The late insurance goal seemed to take all the energy out of the Millsaps players, bench, and fans as the Rams were just over 10 minutes away from their first win.
Later in the match after head coach Brian Person subbed in several reserves, freshman Jamya Martin put in her first collegiate goal following a deflected save in the 89th minute. Prior to Martin's goal, she did not make any contact with the ball as she checked into the match just two minutes prior. Martin now holds a record for first goal scored on the first career touch. The goal made it a 4-0 ballgame as the final whistle blew just 20 seconds later.
The victory for Mobile saw four different players score their first goals of the season, with two freshman scoring the first goals of their career. Eight of 15 shots were on-goal for Mobile, as the defense held Millsaps to just six shots.
Through three matches played, Mobile has seemed to control each match. Mistakes have haunted the Rams through the first two matches, but Sunday's win could potentially fulfill Mobile with some confidence ahead of a long road trip to Georgia on the horizon.
Rams Tour Georgia
Sunday's match for Mobile was the first of five-straight non-conference road matches during the 2022 season. From Sept. 3 through Sept. 10, the Rams will play four matches against Georgia NAIA opponents, with the first being against Truett-McConnell University at 11:00 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 3. That match will be played in Cleveland, Ga.
In four meetings with Truett-McConnell, Mobile is 4-0, never having lost to the Bears. Their last meeting came during the 2013 season almost 10 years ago.
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.
