Rio Grande Ends UM's Season With 3-1 Victory in Quarterfinals

OLATHE, Kan. - The University of Rio Grande extended their undefeated record to 22-0-1 with a 3-1 win over the defending national champion University of Mobile Rams (16-5-0) in the quarterfinals of the 45th annual men's soccer NAIA National Tournament. Controlling the ball extremely well, leaving the Rams with few opportunities to score, the Redmen of Rio Grande ended Mobile's dreams of capturing back-to-back titles.

Although a disappointment it was a prediction Mobile's head coach had made prior to the start of the 2003 season.  "You're never pleased to lose," Rams' Head Coach Peter Fuller said. "It's always a bitter pill but before the season started I felt that given a roster with 19 new faces a quarterfinals appearance would have been a successful effort for us."

The Redmen, who have been knocking on the door for the last few years under the guidance of 13 year Head Coach Scott Morrissey (178-87-16), seem poised to make yet another run at a title that has successfully evaded them.

"They're a better team," the 2003 NAIA Coach of the Year said. "The result is a fair result. We had some good chances to score and it could have been interesting."

Rio Grande got on the board first as Ben Hunter scored in the 16th minute off an assist from freshman Conar Dawson.  The Rams struck back in the 25th minute as Darren Toby, after receiving a throw in, served the ball to the back post where Jamie Ferguson was waiting to put away the equalizer.

The Redmen's leading scorer, Simon Carey, scored the game winner in the 33rd minute off an assist from Ben Hunter.

The Rams came out in the second half with a vengeance however, and began to hold their own on the cold Kansas pitch.

"A lot of it was effort," Coach Fuller said. "The first half of this game we didn't show up. We're a team that really needs to have a lead and be able to dictate pace. We were chasing after we went down, especially after they scored their third goal."

Rio Grande's Paul Fiddler scored their final goal of the match in the 87th minute to seal the victory.

The win moves the 2nd seeded Redmen into the semifinals where they will face the winner of Park University (Mo.) versus Hastings College (Neb.) at 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24.