Men’s Soccer Releases 2004 Schedule

MOBILE, Ala. -- The University of Mobile men’s soccer program, coming off a national championship just two seasons ago, have reported for preseason training and have officially released their 2004 schedule head coach Peter Fuller announced on Thursday.

The Rams, who are coming off a 16-5 record a year ago, will face five teams that made the NAIA National Tournament last season. In all, Mobile will play 17 regular season games, nine of those games being played at home.

Highlighting the schedule is the “The O’Charley’s Futbol Festival” that will involve four top-25 ranked NAIA teams, including the last two national champions in Mobile and the University of Rio Grande.

Rio Grande, who defeated Mobile 3-1 in the quarterfinal round of the National Tournament last season on their way to the school’s first ever national championship, will open up the tournament on Friday, Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. against Auburn University-Montgomery. At 7 p.m., Mobile will play their first home game of the season against regionally rival, Thomas University.

On Saturday, Sept. 11, Auburn University-Montgomery will play against Thomas at 4:30 p.m. and the Rams will play Rio Grande that night at 7 p.m. in a showdown between the last two national champions.

Mobile will open the season on Labor Day Weekend when the team travels to play at Covenant College on Saturday, Sept. 4 and then on to Bryan College for a match-up on Monday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m.

After The O’Charley’s Futbol Festival, the Rams will travel to Arkansas where they will compete in the John Brown Tournament to be played in Siloam Springs. On Friday, Sept. 17 the Rams will face Oklahoma City University before squaring off against host, John Brown University on Saturday, Sept. 18.

After returning from their second road trip of the season, the Rams will host five straight home games from Sept. 22 through Oct. 9. Leading off that stretch of games will be a match against Lindsey Wilson College, a six-time NAIA National Champion, on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Last season, the Rams suffered their worst loss of the year, 4-0, at the hands of the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson.

During the home-stand, the Rams will also face soccer powers Biola University (California), Bellevue University (Nebraska), Mid-Continent College (Kentucky) and conference rival William Carey College.

After road games at Auburn University-Montgomery, Cedarville University (Ohio) and Brescia University (Kentucky), the Rams return home for a match against Belhaven College before arguably the team’s biggest game of the season at Spring Hill College.

Last year, the Rams won 2-1 in a thrilling double-overtime match at home in front of one of the largest crowds ever assembled at “The Jungle.” This season, the Rams must go across town and play at Spring Hill College.

To close out the year, the Rams will face Union University of Tennessee at home on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Mobile, will kickoff their season on Wednesday, Aug. 25 when the team travels to Birmingham, to face the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) in an exhibition game at 7 p.m.

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Aug. 25 at UAB (Exhibition) 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Covenant College 1 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Bryan College 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 AUM vs Rio Grande 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 UM vs. Thomas U. 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 AUM vs. Thomas U. 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 UM vs. Rio Grande 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Oklahoma City 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at John Brown University 3 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Lindsey Wilson College 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Biola University 8 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. William Carey College 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Bellevue University 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 vs. Mid-Continent College 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 at AUM 3 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Cedarville University 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Brescia University TBA
Oct. 23 vs. Belhaven College 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Spring Hill College 3 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. Union University 5 p.m.