#25 Trojans continue road trip at Clarke
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#25 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (1-0) at CLARKE CRUSADERS (1-1)
Wednesday, September 3 | 3:00 p.m.
Wahlert Field | Dubuque, Iowa
Live Stats
Game Notes | Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @TIU_WSoccer | @ClarkeAthletics
Season Stats: Trinity International | Clarke
Quick Notes
• The 25th-ranked Trinity International Trojans look to keep the momentum rolling this week, as they travel to face the Clarke (Iowa) Crusaders after their season-opening victory last week.
• The Trojans scored seven goals en route to a 7-3 win at Bethel (Ind.) last week. Five different players scored for TIU, with junior Samantha Yasatan and freshman Michele Streekstra tallying two goals apiece.
• Junior Morgan Elzinga assisted on two of the seven goals last week, and is 3rd in the NAIA in assists per game. She is also one of 25 players in the early portion of the season to have scored the game-winning goal in each of her team's matches this year.
• Live stats will be available through the Clarke University Athletics website, ClarkeCrusaders.com.
Last Time Out
• Both sides traded goals in the first half, but three unanswered scores gave Trinity the 7-3 win to open the 2014 season at Bethel.
• The offensive outburst was the most goals scored by Trinity since a Sept. 29, 2012 meeting with Holy Cross; the Trojans put up eight goals in an 8-0 win over the Saints.
• Trinity International has won it's last three season-openers, defeating John Brown (Ark.) at Schartner Field, 4-1 in 2012, then going on the road and knocking off Siena Heights (Mich.) 2-1 last year.
In the Polls
• Trinity International earned a spot in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, released last week, 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 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 also earned a spot in the NCCAA National Top 10 Rankings, debuting at No. 7. TIU is the second-highest ranked program out of the North Central Region, behind only Trinity Christian at No. 5.
NCCAA Championship Anniversary
• 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.
Scouting the Opponents
Clarke Crusaders
• The Crusaders have gotten off to a 1-1 start this season, opening their schedule at the Calumet St. Joseph Tournament last weekend.
• Clarke earned a 1-0 win over Shawnee State (Ohio) to open the tourney, before falling to hosts Calumet St. Joseph, 3-2 on Saturday.
• Four different players have scored a goal for the Crusaders, with Devan Stieber leading the team with three points on a goal and an assist.
• Goalkeeper Christine Piasecki has played all 180 minutes so far this year, making 12 saves and posting a GAA of 2.00.
• Wednesday marks the first meeting between the Trojans and Crusaders since at least the 2000 season.
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.
