September 25, 2002
Mobile remains at the #2 spot in the national rankings

Mobile, AL – The nationally 2nd-ranked University of Mobile men's soccer team completed another successful week of away games as they defeated Spring Hill College 2-1 on Sept. 21 and picked up a 2-1 overtime win over Belhaven on Sept. 18.

     The Rams, enjoying an undefeated 8-0-1 record, will have over a week to rest and prepare for the next series of games. Due to Tropical Storm Isadore,  the homestretch is likely not to start until October 2, when the Rams will welcome conference rival William Carey for a 7:30 p.m. game.

    Canceled, was the popular Futbol Festival tournament which was set to get
underway with Auburn University-Montgomery taking on St. Gregory's University this Friday evening. In the nightcap, Mobile was set to square off against Oklahoma Christian University a 2001 NAIA National Tournament qualifier.

     Rams Head Coach Peter Fuller said the wins against tough teams from Spring Hill and Belhaven have prepared his team for the upcoming series of home games.

     "This year Belhaven is five-and-three and Spring Hill is four-and-three, and both of them are going to win a number of games," Coach Fuller explained. "I think Spring Hill is going to beat someone really good somewhere down the road this year. Don't be surprised to see Spring Hill sneak in as a top 25 somewhere down the line. That being the case, our win is all the more impressive."

     Longo, a rating system that assigns points based upon location, strength of the team and point spread, plays a significant role in determining post-season play location and who in fact gets to play. Longo points will be sought after over the course of the next three weeks as Mobile plays host to some of the nation's best, including 7th-ranked William Carey College, 1st-ranked Lindsey Wilson College, 20th-ranked Berry College and 6th-ranked Auburn University-Montgomery.

     Being looked upon to lead the Rams through this upcoming gauntlet will be team leading scorers Teba McKnight (5 goals and 2 assists), James Gledhill (4 goals and 2 assists), and Nana Asante (3 goals).

     Regional Player of the Week, Rams goalkeeper Andrew Bayliss, has thus far collected 3 shutouts. He was helped by an All-American backfield that has limited opponents to 7 goals in 9 games this season. While the triumvirate of 2001 All-American Steven Linpow, 2000 All-American Chris Williams and Jamie Ferguson have stifled some of the nation's top strikers, it is Ferguson who has made heads turn with his
scoring ability. Ferguson joins Gledhill with four goals scored thus far.

 [Return to UM Sports Web]