THE JUNGLE | MOBILE, Ala. - In a dramatic second-round clash at the Jungle, the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team rallied to a thrilling 2-1 victory over NAIA rival Keiser University (Fla.) on Saturday evening, Nov. 23, with the Rams punching their ticket to the Wichita, Kan. for the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Round of 16. The match, which saw its defining moment in the final minute of regulation, highlighted Mobile's resilience and determination after falling behind 1-0 early in the match.
The Rams, who enter this year's national tournament as the No. 6 seed, are now 17-3-1 on the season, while the Seahawks of Keiser sees their 2024 season end with a 9-4-3 record.
How It Happened
Keiser struck first on Saturday in the 18th minute when Manu Cordeviola capitalized on a well-placed assist from Gabi Villafane to put the Seahawks ahead. Despite a strong offensive showing by Mobile through the first 45 minutes, including 11 shots and six corner kicks, Keiser's defense held firm and kept the Rams off the scoreboard to lead 1-0 at halftime.
Out of the halftime break, Mobile's breakthrough came in the 60th minute as Jeb Scarbrough leveled the score with a strong strike following a ricochet off a Keiser defender inside the box. Scarbrough's equalizer ignited the home crowd and shifted momentum to Mobile's bench.
Both teams then battled in the latter stages of the match, trading shots throughout the remainder of regulation. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when Emilio Cazares delivered the game-winning goal off a pinpoint assist from Noah Miller with 50 seconds left in regulation. Cazares' strike is his team-leading 23rd goal of the year and sent the Rams faithful into a frenzy at the Jungle. The remaining 50 seconds saw Keiser heave desperation passes near and inside the Mobile box, but Mobile's defense was too strong and sealed the second-round victory.
Following the final whistle, frustration boiled over on Keiser's side and the two teams exchanged in a shoving match, resulting in several cards being issued by referees. Keiser saw two players and an assistant coach issued red cards, while Mobile saw one red card and one yellow issued following the altercation.
Inside the Box Score
Mobile out-shot the Seahawks 20-8 across the full 90 minutes, with six attempts recorded on target compared to Keiser's three. Mobile goalkeeper Ty Turner made two key saves to keep the Rams in contention throughout the match. Emilio Cazares led the Rams with five shots, while Joseph McMahon, Jeb Scarbrough, and Henrique Luro Mendes all finished with three shots a piece. Additionally, Mobile took 10 corner kicks in the win, while Keiser only mustered two.
Saturday's victory was extra sweet for the Rams and head coach Daniel Whelan as Mobile snaps a five-match losing skid to Keiser, including falling in the 2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Champoinship match to the Seahawks. Mobile sends Keiser home before the final site in Wichita, Kan., while advancing to compete for the coveted NAIA Red Banner and national title.
Round of 16 On Deck
Mobile is set to face Oklahoma City in the round of 16, scheduled for Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Stars enter the final site after upsetting the No. 11 seed of Marian (Ind.) 3-2 in double overtime.
All matches in Wichita, Kan. are scheduled to be played from Dec. 2-9 at the Scheels Stryker Sports Complex and will be broadcasted live on the NAIA Network.
FOLLOW THE RAMS
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.
