WICHITA, Kan. - The 2024 season came to an end for the University of Mobile Men's Soccer team on Thursday night, Dec. 5, with Mobile falling 1-0 to William Penn University (Iowa) in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Tournament.
The Rams end the year with a 18-4-1 overall record, highlighted by the sixth consecutive national tournament berth and claiming the 2024 SSAC Regular Season Championship.
Match Summary
Thursday's lone goal of the match came in the 25th minute when Timothy King of William Penn scored an unassisted goal, giving the Statesmen the lead. Despite several attempts from both sides, neither team was able to find the back of the net again, resulting in a hard-fought victory for William Penn to send the Statesmen to the semifinal round.
Mobile managed to outshoot William Penn 8-5 in the defeat and nearly scored the equalizer on several occasions in the second half, including a shot in the 73rd minute from Derihan Rivera that ricocheted off the post. In the 85th minute, Mobile's scoring leader Emilio Cazares and Philmour Virgo combined on a shot inside the box that found the back of the net. However, a questionable offsides call removed the match-tying goal from scoreboard and was the eventual final dagger for the Rams.
Mobile registered four shots on target in the eight shot attempts as William Penn keeper Sean Bohan finished with four saves to secure the clean sheer performance. Both teams displayed solid defensive performances across the full 90 minutes, with Mobile goalkeeper Ty Turner finishing with one save on the night against the Statesmen who notched just two shots-on-goal. Additionally, Mobile led in the corner kick category, recording a 7-1 edge over William Penn.
Looking Ahead
University of Mobile Men's Soccer, led by head coach Daniel Whelan, continues to prove each year to be one of the best programs across the entire NAIA, qualifying for the national tournament for six-straight seasons. Work and preparation will begin soon to continue that trend ahead of the 2025 season, slated to begin in August of 2025.
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.
