Columbia County, GA – The program's best season came to an end in the NAIA Quarterfinals after losing to #1 Central Methodist 1-0. This marks the first loss for UC in 11 straight matches and gives them a season record of 14-6-2. In the postseason the Eagles had been beating teams by at least two goals and on the season they had only been held to a single goal two other times before meeting UC.

Sergio Infantes Castell, Joel Drewery and Aleksandar Mirkovic all led the team with a pair of shots each, but were unable to find the back of the net for the Patriots.

The #8 Patriots had the daunting task of playing the defending National Champions who had just one loss on the season. The Eagles were on the attack early in the contest, firing three shots in the first 15 minutes of play. Cumberlands weathered the storm until Central Methodist was awarded a penalty kick in the 20'. Their attacker sent the penalty to the right side of the net, past Ingmar Struck who dove the other direction.

Instead of being discouraged by the 1-0 deficit, it ignited the Patriots who recorded their first shot of the game just three minutes later. The team kept pressuring the Eagle's defense all through the first half, looking for the equalizer. Multiple times they had the ball on the flanks crossing it into the box, but unable to connect for a goal.

The best stretch for the Patriots to find the equalizer came in the final 15 minutes of the half. The team had three corner kicks and five shots, but were unable to put any of them away. The one shot UC put on frame came from a set piece in the final minute of the half. Drewery sent the ball to the back post for Nemanja Jovanovic. He headed it towards goal, but the Eagles' goalkeeper came up with the save.

Struck patrolled the goal for UC and made a save in 30' minute that kept the game within reach for Cumberlands. Central Methodist had the ball inside the 18-yard box on the right side. Their attacker fired the ball from just outside the six-yard box that Struck stretched above his head to knock away from harm.

In the second half the Eagles were on the defense much of the 45 minutes. They committed seven straight fouls in the opening eight minutes, trying to knock UC off their rhythm. The Eagles recorded zero shots on frame in the last half with only five total. Two of those shots were blocked by UC's center backs of Jovanovic and Mirkovic who made tackles all over the pitch, keeping the Eagles at bay.

In the final minute of the game, Cumberlands was awarded a free kick about 40 yards away from goal. Drewery sent the ball into the box and the Eagles's keeper misjudged the ball jumping past it. The ball fell to Mirkovic who shot it on his first touch, but an Eagles' defender blocked it as time expired in the game.

The game eliminated the Patriots from the NAIA Tournament, bringing their season to an end in the quarterfinals, the furthest the team has ever made it in its history. UC also secured the team's first Mid-South Conference Tournament championship since 1996.

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