Season Comes to a Close for Reinhardt in Opening Round

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Keiser (Fla.) Sports Information 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The champions of the Appalachian Athletic Conference wrapped up their season in the Sunshine State on Thursday evening after the Rams of Mobile (Ala.) earned victory in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round, 5-0.

The Eagles (13-3) didn't go down without a fight, however, as they left it all out on the field in the face of adversity.

"It was not the ending to our season that we hoped for or anticipated in the national tournament," head coach Joey Johnson said. "However, in this year coping with the unpredictable and unforgiving factors a pandemic brings, one quickly learns that a team's reality can change in a moment. After the past few days, I am thankful that our team in the end had an opportunity to compete at all. I am grateful for the efforts of our players – especially those who embraced new positions on short notice or were called up from the reserve team to compete. I am appreciative of Athletic Director Bill Popp and our athletic staff for their support during this time, and for our athletic training staff, who put in many extra hours this week on our behalf.

"I am proud of this team this year who will, in time, be able to reflect on a historic season where they overcame challenges that were unprecedented and made memories together that will surely last a lifetime."

The hometown team had new faces in new places on the pitch all match long as it did its best to control the attack from the second-seeded Rams.

Both squads went up-and-down the field in the first half trying to find an opening in the opposing defense, but couldn't connect on a score in the initial 45 minutes of play.

Mobile needed just over five minutes into the second period to earn the first tally at 50:44, and then carried that momentum into another score in the 53^rd minute.

Down, 2-0, Reinhardt tried its best to hold on, but the Rams hit the scoreboard two more times at 62:21 and 65:31, respectively.

The hosts on the pitch netted another shot late for the 5-0 final.

The Eagles attempted three shots, with one on-goal, and a corner kick.

Niko Tzevelekos made five saves in his final appearance of 2020.

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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Soccer, please click here.