#25 Trojans open conference play against Judson, Purdue-Cal
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#25 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (4-1, 0-0 CCAC) at JUDSON EAGLES (3-1-1, 0-0 CCAC)
Tuesday, September 23 | 4:00 p.m.
Dawson Field | Elgin, Ill.
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#25 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (4-1, 0-0 CCAC) vs. PURDUE-CALUMET PEREGRINES (4-3, 0-0 CCAC)
Saturday, September 27 | 12:00 p.m.
Schartner Field | Deerfield, Ill.
Game Notes | Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @TIU_WSoccer | @JUAthletics | @Purduecalsports
Season Stats: Trinity International | Judson | Purdue-Calumet
Quick Notes
• The No. 25 Trinity International Trojans kick off conference play this week, as they travel to Elgin and take on the Judson Eagles before returning home against the Purdue-Calumet Peregrines over the weekend. Kickoff for the CCAC opener is Tuesday, September 23, at 4:00 p.m., while the match with Purdue-Calumet will start at 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 27.
• The Trojans finished fifth in last season's CCAC standings, but defeated three higher-ranked teams en route to the conference tournament title.
• Trinity has averaged 3.8 goals per match this season, the highest average in the CCAC, and the 10th-highest average in the NAIA.
Last Time Out
• Trinity International rebounded from their first loss of the season, to take a 4-0 decision over No. 20 Ashford (Iowa) at home.
• Junior Samantha Yasatan continued her streak of scoring in every match this season, and had her third multi-goal game, scoring twice for her seventh and eighth goals of the year.
• Morgan Elzinga scored her third goal of the season in the 9th minute, giving her three game-winning goals on the year. Sophomore Brianna Bernholdt pitched in as well, with her first goal of the year in the 44th minute.
• Senior Liz Burzynski played all 90 mintues in goal, recording her first shutout of the season.
• The win finishes out the non-conference portion of the season for the Trojans, who come out four wins in five matches before the start of CCAC play.
In the Polls
• 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 Tuesday, before the Judson match.
• 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
• 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 3.80 goals per match, and have a conference-high 19 goals on the season. Nationally, the Trojans rank 10th in the NAIA in goals per game, and 34th in total goals scored.
• TIU also leads the league in assists per game, averaging an even 2.0. The team also ranks 28th in the NAIA.
• The Trojans currently average the second-fewest fouls per match, at 6.2. Only Calumet St. Joseph (5.43 fouls per match) has fewer.
• Defensively, the Trojans average 1.6 goals allowed per game, the third-lowest average in the CCAC. The team's goals-against average of 1.54 ranks third in the league, but Trojan goalkeepers have been fairly quiet, averaging just 2.2 saves per match, the lightest workload in the conference.
• Entering play this week, six CCAC teams (including TIU) have picked up one shutout this season; the other six programs are still looking for their first clean sheet.
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 (5.4), points (17) and points average (3.4), goals, (8) and goals average (1.6). Yasatan is 2nd in the CCAC in total shots taken, with 27.
• Yasatan also sits 5th in the NAIA in goals per game, 7th in points per game, and 10th in shots on goal per game (3.2).
• Morgan Elzinga, Kathryn Baccash, and Melissa Loretto are all tied for sixth in the CCAC, with two assists each, and are just three helpers from the top of the conference leaderboard. Elzinga is also on the national leaderboard, thanks to her three game-winning goals, giving her the fifth-highest average of game-winners in the NAIA.
Scouting the Opponents
Judson
• The Eagles return to Elgin for just their second home match of the season on Tuesday, and are winners of three out of their last four matches.
• Judson has allowed one or fewer goals in all five matches this season, but have just scored six goals themselves over that same span.
• All-CCAC forward Angela Bianchi leads the team with four goals this season, tied for 3rd in the CCAC. She also has two game-winners, ranking 16th in the NAIA.
• Junior Eloisa Borreguero has a goals-against average of 0.73 to lead the CCAC, as well as a conference-high .818 save percentage.
• The Trojans and Eagles last met in the CCAC Tournament Quarterfinals, when TIU took a 2-0 win on the road. Trinity holds an 8-3-1 mark against Judson dating back to 2007.
Purdue-Calumet
• The Peregrines have already surpassed their win total from last season, but are coming off a 3-1 loss at Mount Mercy (Iowa) and have dropped two of their last three.
• Purdue-Calumet ranks 3rd in the CCAC with 16 goals scored on the season. They also have a conference-high 13 assists. Their 15 goals allowed is good for 8th in the league.
• Senior Rachel Shmagranoff has tallied six goals on the year, second only to Yasatan for the conference lead. Kirsten Nirtaut is the CCAC leader in assists, with five, and an 0.71 per game average.
• The Trojans earned a 5-0 win over Purdue-Calumet on the road last season, which included a pair of goals for Yasatan, and a shutout for TIU keeper Liz Burzynski.
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.
