Lady Rams Advance To Round Of 8 At National Championships

DECATUR, Ala-- The University of Mobile women's soccer team defeated Graceland (Iowa) 4-1 at the 2011 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship to advance to the Quarterfinals Wednesday at 1:30 pm against No. 2 seed Azusa Pacific.

The Lady Rams (19-3-1) out shot Graceland 17-10, including a 12-2 edge in the second half when Mobile tallied three goals to put the game away.

Igniting the attack for Mobile was Jesslyn Fagundes, who turned in a hat trick, scoring the team's first three goals. She opened the game with a goal in the 8th minute off an assist from Kassie Ruff, and that duo hooked up again just 1:38 into the second half.

In the 50th minute, Christy Lachappelle fed Fagundes for the 3-0 Mobile lead. Mobile kept it up in the 67th minute when Rebekah Counce headed home a corner kick from Lachappelle.

Graceland added a late goal in the 73rd minute off a corner kick of their own.

Azusa defeated 15th-seed Hastings 2-0 Monday, while Mobile is the 7th-seed in the tournament.

This is the furthest Mobile has advanced since a 3rd-place finish in 1998.