Mobile, AL – Despite the Patriots scoring a late goal in regulation to send the game to overtime, the golden goal from Columbia International, eliminated Cumberlands from the NAIA Tournament. The Rams won 2-1 giving the Patriots a final season record of 11-6-3.

The Patriots outshot the Rams during the match 15-12, but Stephen Appiah was the lone goal scorer for UC, tallying his sixth goal of the season.

CIU got on the scoresheet first in the 12' after earning a free kick deep in their offensive half. The sent a ball to the near post and a Rams' attacker was able to redirect the ball into the net to go up 1-0.

Cumberlands led Columbia International throughout the whole game with offensive chances including corner kicks. Three of UC's eight corner kicks came in the opening 45 minutes, but they were unable to put any away, resulting in CIU's 1-0 advantage at the half.

To start the second half, UC fired off two shots and had a pair of corner kicks before CIU had an offensive chance, but the Patriots were unable to find the back of the net.

The constant attack for Cumberlands eventually paid off in the 80^th minute. Joel Drewery had the ball on the right flank, and he dribbled it up the side. He sent in a well-paced cross just outside the six-yard box on the left side. Appiah jumped into the air meeting the ball with his right foot to tie up the game at 1-1. The assist for Drewery marked his 13^th this season.

The Rams shot the ball two more times, but none of them were on frame sending the game into overtime. This was the fifth time this season UC had sent a game to the overtime period and the third for CIU.

The Patriots dominated the opening minutes of the overtime period controlling most of the possession and having two early shots along with a corner kick. Appiah had a shot in the first minute of the overtime period, but the ball went just wide of the net.

The first scoring opportunity the Rams had they took advantage of to win the game. They had a counterattack in the 98' where they played the ball up the middle to their attacker who buried the shot, ending the match. The win advances CIU to the final game in the Mobile Bracket up against the University of Mobile.

The Patriots made it to the NAIA Opening Round for the third time in a row, which extended the program record. The match concluded the career of captain Drewery who will leave his named etched in the record books as the most capped player with 92 matches played and the most assists with 44 in his career.

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