The men’s club soccer team was the first club team established at The University of Alabama. The program has a history of success in qualifying for the NIRSA regional tournament and the national tournament. This year’s team has looked to continue the tradition of success established by former UA teams.
On Sunday, the men’s club soccer team closed out its regular season with a 5-1 home victory over Columbus State. The win capped an up-and-down season for the team. The soccer team stumbled out of the gate, suffering losses to Auburn and Mississippi State. However, as the season progressed, the team improved game by game.
“We started off slow, but our chemistry wasn’t there,” freshman midfielder Alex Rodriguez said. “But the more we’ve played together this season, the better we’ve gotten.”
Throughout the season, the team has hosted many opponents, but they have also taken road trips to various campuses across the South. The soccer team played away games at Auburn, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi. This year’s schedule also featured a tournament in Gainesville hosted by the University of Florida.
“Our signature victories this season would have to be wins over Miami and Florida in the UF tournament earlier this year,” sophomore defender Jason Solomon said.
With the regular season behind them, the soccer team is currently waiting to hear if they have qualified to play in this year’s regional tournament. A berth in the tournament would be the team’s first selection in three years. The team’s tournament resumé features a second-place finish in its region and a 7-2-2 overall record.
“Our expectation all year has been to advance to the regional tournament,” club president Ethan Mergen said. “We have put ourselves in great position to receive a wild card bid.”
While the team has excelled on the field, perhaps its greatest attribute is the camaraderie both on and off the field.
“The team’s morale and enthusiasm is great,” Solomon said. “It’s hard to go out and practice three times a week … but the guys work hard and push each other to get the job done, and that’s what matters at the end of the day.”
