TIU Men's Soccer opens 2014 against Spring Arbor
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TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (0-0) vs. SPRING ARBOR COUGARS (0-0)
Thursday, August 21 | 4:00 p.m.
Schartner Field | Deerfield, Ill.
Streaming Video & Live Stats
Game Notes | Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans |  @SAUCougars
Season Stats: Trinity International | Spring Arbor
This Week
After a long summer break and two weeks of preseason practices, the Trinity International men's soccer team are ready to kick off the 2014 schedule, as the Trojans host the Spring Arbor (Mich.) Cougars in a non-conference matchup at Schartner Field. The Trojans are looking to build on a 4-10-3 record from a year ago, with a large number of returning starters, along with a mix of promising freshmen. Thursday's season-opening match will be available online via the TIU Sports Network, at TIUTrojans.com.
Last Time Out
Despite the Trojans record last season, the team ended on a high note, with back-to-back victories against St. Francis and Holy Cross. Erik Yamane finished off the Saints, who went on to reach the CCAC Tournament Final, in the last game of the year, with his goal in a 1-0 win.
Key Returners
Trinity International returns their top two goal-scorers from a year ago, in junior Erik Yamane, and sophomore Zach Reget. Yamane led TIU with five goals throughout the season, while Reget put away three goals during his freshman season. Of the eight Trojans to score a goal in 2013, five return this year, and ten of the 13 players to record at least a single point a year ago will suit up on Thursday.
In goal, senior Sean Avila returns to the team, after posting one of the CCAC's best goals-against averages last year. Avila gave up an average of 1.43 goals per 90 minutes of play, the fifth-lowest GAA in the conference. He finished last season with back-to-back shutouts, helping lead the Trojans to a pair of 1-0 wins over St. Francis and Holy Cross, and hasn't allowed a goal in his last 180 minutes on the pitch.
40th Anniversary
This season marks the 40th anniversary of the 1974 NCCAA National Championship, won by Trinity College. The Trojans were one of four Christian colleges to be invited to the tournament, which was in its third year of existance. Hosted by Covenant College (Ga.), Trinity College defeated Bryan (Tenn.) 3-2 in the semifinals, before earning a 2-1 win over Messiah (Pa.).
The 2014 squad will honor the NCCAA Champions with a special patch on their warmup jackets. The Trinity Soccer shield is featured in gold trim, along with a gold star above the shield, signifying the program's lone national title.
Since 1974, Trinity has made 5 appearances in the NCCAA National Tournament, most recently in 2008. The Trojans hold a 7-5 record in NCCAA Tournament play.
Scouting the Opponents
The Cougars posted a 14-9-2 record last season, reaching the Crossroads League Tournament Final, as well as the NCCAA National Tournament. SAU knocked off Oakland City (Ind.) in the NCCAA Regional to earn a berth to the national tourney, where they went 1-0-1 in pool play before falling to Southern Wesleyan (S.C.) in the national semifinal.
Returning to Spring Arbor for 2014 is sophomore Michael Caccavo; the defender will look to play a key role for the Cougars after earning All-Crossroads First Team honors, as well as an NCCAA All-American Second Team nod. Caccavo also finished last season as the team's leading goal-scorer, with eight goals last year, tied for seventh-most in the Crossroads League.
Thursday marks the first meeting between Spring Arbor and Trinity International since at least 2005.
Good Sports
For the second time in the past three seasons, the Trinity International men's soccer team earned the CCAC Karl Boeck Conference Champions of Character Team Award. The team honor goes to the squad that displays the best sportsmanship throughout the season in the CCAC, which the Trojans have earned in both 2011 and 2013.
Currently, Trinity is the team with the longest streak without a red card in the CCAC, and have gone five full seasons since seeing one of their players sent off. They were also one of three teams in the league (Olivet Nazarene, Trinity Christian) without a red card in 2013.
