HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Mobile Men's Soccer team earned the SSAC Men's Soccer Regular Season Championship on Saturday evening, Oct. 21, defeating conference rival William Carey University (Miss.) in shutout fashion in the SSAC Men's Soccer Game of the Week. Entering Saturday's match, Mobile ranks No. 9 in the latest NAIA Men's Soccer Top 25 Coaches' Ratings, while William Carey ranks No. 6. Both teams sat atop the current conference standings in the SSAC, with the winner of Saturday's match earning the regular season title and top seed in the upcoming SSAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. With the win over the Crusaders on William Carey's home field, Mobile stays perfect in conference play with an 8-0-1 SSAC record, while also improving to 9-2-2 overall.
Match Recap: Mobile Blanks Conference Rival; Steals Regular Season Championship
In an evenly-played match in Hattiesburg, Miss., it was Mobile who came away victorious in enemy territory. The Rams scored early for the match's lone goal as Zacharia Hasler netted the eventual game-winner in just the 13th minute. Mobile finished the first half with five shots, while William Carey took four. In the second half, the Crusaders managed seven shots, but were unable the score the equalizer as Mobile eventually came away with the 1-0 win.
Both teams took a total of 11 shots each in Saturday's battle, with William Carey having the edge in shots-on-goal with four. However, Mobile starting goalkeeper Ty Turner came away with four huge saves to keep the Crusaders off the scoreboard. Turner's clean sheet is the senior's ninth this season as he brings his save total on the year to 29.
The Mobile offense only recorded three shots-on-goal, two coming from Hasler who led the team with five total shots in the full 90 minutes. Tom Carles came in from off the bench and took two shots, while four other Rams took one shot a piece. Hasler's game-winner in the 13th minute is his fourth goal of the 2023 season.
Two Regular Season Matches Remain Ahead of Conference Tourney
Mobile is scheduled to play their final non-conference match of the regular season next Tuesday night, Oct. 24 at the Jungle, hosting Pensacola Christian College (Fla.) for a 7:00 p.m. CT match. Following Tuesday's meeting with the PCC Eagles, Mobile will then host the Eagles of Faulkner University (Ala.) to wrap up the regular season on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 28.
The 2023 SSAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament is scheduled to begin with first round action on Nov. 2-4 at campus sites. As the top seed in this year's tournament, Mobile will host the No. 8 seed at the Jungle, with the opponent currently TBD. The semifinals and finals of the championship tournament will be played on Nov. 8 and 10 at the Emory Folmar YMCA Complex in Montgomery, Ala.
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For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams (Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.
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.
