A national championship is never really won in just four games and five days of a tournament.
That’s what University of Mobile (UM) Coach Peter Fuller told his men shortly after he received the call from the NAIA national office telling him that the soccer team was awarded an at-large bid to compete at the 2002 National Tournament. The team took that opportunity to the limit and defeated Park University 2-1 in the national final, earning the NAIA 2002 National Championship title.
The Rams defeated Bethel College in the first round 1-0 in the 108th minute of double-overtime. They went on to defeat Mid-Continent College in the quarter-finals, 5-4 in penalty kicks, after drawing a 3-3 result following two scoreless overtime periods. Having lost to regional nemesis Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) twice already this season, the Rams defeated the top-seeded Senators 1-0 in the semi-finals. In the final, the Rams defeated Park University 2-1, weathering a storm of being out-shot 19-9.
For seniors James Gledhill and Chris Williams, the national championship gave fulfillment to two impressive careers. Having garnered All-American honors in years past, both players came back for their fourth and final season at Mobile to capture that which had eluded them on two previous trips to the national tournament, when the team lost in the finals in 1999 and in the semi-finals in 2000.
Gledhill, who recorded four goals at the tournament, was awarded Tournament MVP and All-Tournament honors.
Williams, who is poised to be a selection for Canada’s Olympic team and perhaps full National Team, was also awarded All-Tournament honors.
Fuller, the 243-72-20 career coach, who stands on the verge of winning a milestone 250th game in 2003, could only smile and hold back tears as he reflected on a championship win.
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