Top-25 battle pits #25 Trojans against #20 Ashford
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#25 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (3-1) vs. #20 ASHFORD SAINTS (4-3)
Wednesday, September 17 | 4:00 p.m.
Schartner Field | Deerfield, Ill.
Streaming Video &Â Live Stats
Game Notes | Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @TIU_WSoccer | @AUSaints
Season Stats: Trinity International | Ashford
Quick Notes
 • After suffering a tough loss on the road last week, the No. 25 Trinity International Trojans return home to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule, as TIU hosts No. 20 Ashford (Iowa) on Wednesday, September 17. Kickoff at Schartner Field is set for 4:00 p.m.
 • The Trojans will face off against their second nationally-ranked opponent in as many matches when the Saints come to town. TIU took a 2-1 loss at No. 21 St. Ambrose last Friday.
 • Trinity has averaged 3.75 goals per match this season, the highest average in the CCAC, and the 12th-highest average in the NAIA.
 • Live video and stats will be available for Wednesday's match with the Saints, at TIUTrojans.com/TIUSports Network.
Last Time Out  Â
 • Trinity International dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 21 St. Ambrose (Iowa) last week, in their first match of the year against a ranked opponent.
 • Junior Samantha Yasatan scored for the fourth straight time, and for her sixth goal of the season, in the 82nd minute to close the gap on the Bees' two-goal lead.
 • Kathryn Baccash recorded her second assist on the play, matching Morgan Elzinga for the team lead.
 • Senior Liz Burzynski played all 90 mintues in goal, making three saves but taking the loss.
 • The loss comes as a bit of payback for St. Ambrose, who lost to the Trojans last season in Deerfield by a 3-2 margin for their first defeat of the season.
In the Polls  Â
 • Trinity International earned a spot in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Aug. 19, earning a No. 25 ranking. The appearance gives TIU their third straight campaign in which they were nationally ranked at some point during the season. The first regular season poll will be released next week, on Sept. 23.
 • The Trojans finished off last season as a nationally-ranked program, finishing the year at No. 25, after their late postseason run through the CCAC Tournament and into the NAIA Opening Round.
 • This season marks the first year the Trojans open a season as a nationally-ranked team in seven years. In 2007, TIU ranked No. 14 in the Preseason Poll.
 • TIU has been ranked in the Preseason Poll five times in program history, since the poll began in 1999. (2000-2002, 2007, 2014)
 • The Trojans improved one spot in the NCCAA Top 10 national rankings, released last Wednesday, to No. 7. TIU is the second-highest ranked program out of the North Central Region, behind only Trinity Christian at No. 6.
NCCAA Championship Anniversary  Â
 • The TIU women's soccer program is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their second NCCAA National Championship, in 2004. The team will be honored with an anniversary sleeve patch on this year's uniforms, and will be recognized during the match against Calumet St. Joseph, as a part of the Homecoming Weekend festivities.
 • The Trojans defeated Heritage Christian (Ala.), Cedarville (Ohio), and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) by a combined score of 7-1 to claim the title.
 • Four players (Allison Budden, Kelly Campbell, Jill Barre, Ashleigh Dellos) were named to the NCCAA All-Tournament Team; Barre earned Tournament MVP honors, while head coach Patrick Gilliam was named NCCAA National Coach of the Year.
 • Trinity has made seven appearances in the NCCAA Tournament in program history, winning twice, in 2004 and 1998. TIU holds a 15-6 record all-time in the tournament.
 • To qualify for this year's NCCAA North Central Regional and hope to advance to the national tournament, the Trojans need a winning percentage of .600 or above. This season, that percentage translates to at least 10 wins during the regular season.
Stat Leaders
Team Stats
 • As a team, Trinity International leads the CCAC with an average of 3.75 goals per match. The Trojans are tied for 2nd in the league in total goals, with 15.
 • The Trojans currently average the second-fewest fouls per match, at 6.0. Only Calumet St. Joseph (4.67 fouls per match) has fewer.
 • Nationally, the Trojans are 12th in the NAIA in goals per game, 41st in total goals, and 45th in assists per game (1.75).
Individual Stats
 • Samantha Yasatan has been one of the strongest offensive players in the CCAC this season, and ranks 1st or 2nd in the league in six different statistical categories. The junior tops the conference in shots taken per game (5.25), points (12) and points average (3.0), goals, (6) and goals average (1.5). Yasatan is 2nd in the CCAC in total shots taken, with 21, just five shots behind with one fewer match played than the conference leader.
 • Yasatan also sits 10th in the NAIA in goals per game, 15th in points per game, and 16th in shots on goal per game (3.25)
 • Morgan Elzinga and Kathryn Baccash are tied for fourth in the CCAC, with two assists each, and are just one assist from the top of the conference leaderboard. Elzinga is also on the national leaderboard, thanks to her pair of game-winning goals, giving her the sixth-highest average of game-winners in the NAIA.
Scouting the Opponents
Ashford Saints
 • The 20th-ranked Saints will head into Wednesday's match on a four-game win streak, which includes victories over CCAC members Robert Morris and St. Xavier.Â
 • Ashford has not allowed a goal in their last two matches, and in the last 202 minutes of action. The Trojans, meanwhile, have not been shut out yet this season.
 • Freshman midfielder Katharina Schmalz leads the Saints with three goals on the year, while three other players have scored twice this season.
 • Freshman Nyla Peterkin has played all seven matches in goal, with a goals against average of 1.25 and 23 saves.
 • The Trojans and Saints have met three times in the past three years. Trinity took a 4-2 win at home in 2012, but lost by two goals on the road in both 2011 and 2013.
Good Sports
 • For the third straight season, the Trinity International women'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.
 • Currently, Trinity is one of two programs with the longest streak without a red card in the CCAC, and along with Trinity Christian, have gone five full seasons since seeing one of their players sent off.
