LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama men's soccer team rallied from a first-half deficit to earn a 4-1 Gulf South Conference road victory over Mississippi Christian on Saturday afternoon at Robert P. Longabaugh Field in Clinton, Mississippi. Senior forward David Nunez delivered a record-breaking performance, scoring three second-half goals to lead the Tigers to victory.
West Alabama improves to 6-5-4 overall and 4-2-3 in GSC play with the win, securing a spot in the upcoming GSC Tournament. The Tigers will also have an opportunity to earn hosting rights for a first-round matchup as the regular season concludes.
Mississippi Christian opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Karim Gegg found the back of the net off an assist from Lian Feridani, giving the Choctaws a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
The Tigers responded after the break, finding their rhythm offensively and taking control of the match. In the 58th minute, Nunez leveled the score at 1-1 with his 14th goal of the season, finishing a chance created by Florian Laot.
Nunez struck again in the 65th minute, putting West Alabama ahead 2-1 with his second goal of the afternoon. Just six minutes later, he completed the hat trick, extending the Tigers' lead to 3-1 in the 71st minute.
The three-goal performance moved Nunez to 16 goals and 38 points on the season, setting new single-season program records in both categories. His 16 goals mark the most by a player in a single season in West Alabama men's soccer history, while his 38 points establish a new program record for total points in a season.
Jesper Bakli added an insurance goal in the 80th minute, finding the net to push the Tigers' advantage to 4-1 and cap the second-half scoring. West Alabama outscored Mississippi Christian 4-0 after the break to complete the comeback victory.
The Tigers finished with 11 shots, including four on target, while the Choctaws recorded nine shots with six on goal. West Alabama goalkeeper Dan Erez made five saves to help preserve the victory. The Tigers also held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
With the win, West Alabama has clinched its place in the GSC Tournament and will look to improve its postseason positioning in the final match of the regular season.
The Tigers will close out the regular season on the road against Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, October 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
