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#22 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (5-1-1, 1-0-1 CCAC) at TRINITY CHRISTIAN TROLLS (4-3-1, 1-0 CCAC)
Wednesday, October 1 | 4:00 p.m.
Schaaf Field | Palos Heights, Ill.
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#22 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (5-1-1, 1-0-1 CCAC) at OLIVET NAZARENE TIGERS (4-3-1, 2-0 CCAC)
Saturday, October 4 | 5:00 p.m.
Snowbarger Athletic Park | Bourbonnais, Ill.
Quick Notes
• An important week is ahead for the No. 22 Trinity International women's soccer program, as the Trojans hit the road to take on two teams who finished in the top three in the CCAC last season, at Trinity Christian and Olivet Nazarene. The Trojans and Trolls will meet in Palos Heights on Wednesday afternoon for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff. On Saturday, TIU will take on Olivet Nazarene in a rematch of last season's CCAC Tournament championship game, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
• The Trojans started the conference schedule with a draw at Judson, 1-1, and a home win over Purdue-Calumet, 8-1.
• Junior forward Samantha Yasatan was named CCAC Player of the Week for the second straight week, while also earning NCCAA National Player of the Week honors. Yasatan scored six goals over two matches last week, including five goals in the win over the Peregrines.
• Trinity has averaged 4.0 goals per match this season, most in the CCAC, and the 5th-highest average in the NAIA.
Last Time Out
• Trinity International picked up four points in their first two matches of CCAC action last week, at Judson and at home against Purdue-Calumet.
• Junior Samantha Yasatan continued her streak of scoring in every match this season, and had her fourth multi-goal game, scoring five times against PUC, giving her 14 goals on the season.
• Morgan Elzinga scored her fourth goal of the season against the Peregrines, giving her four game-winning goals on the year. Sophomore Layla Zahnizer and junior Chantal Vargas would put their names on the scoresheet as well in the 8-1 win.
• Senior Liz Burzynski played all 200 mintues in goal during both matches, making a combined 12 saves on the week.
In the Polls
• The Trojans improved three spots in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, up to No. 22. TIU started the season ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The ranking gives TIU their third straight campaign in which they were nationally ranked at some point during the season.
• This week's rank is the highest for the Trinity International program since Oct. 9, 2012, when they were also at No. 22.
• 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.
• The Trojans jumped three spots in the NCCAA Top 10 national rankings, released last Tuesday, to No. 2. TIU earned 52 points in the poll, and are ranked behind only Spring Arbor (Mich.), who received all six first-place votes in the poll.
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 4.0 goals per match, and have a conference-high 28 goals on the season. Nationally, the Trojans rank 5th in the NAIA in goals per game, and 20th in total goals scored.
• TIU also leads the league in assists per game, averaging 2.71 per match. The team also ranks 11th in the NAIA.
• The Trojans currently average the fewest fouls per match, at 6.14. Along with Trinity Christian and Cardinal Stritch, TIU is one of three teams with just one yellow card this season, fewest total in the CCAC.
• Defensively, the Trojans average 1.43 goals allowed per game, the third-lowest average in the CCAC. The team's goals-against average of 1.35 ranks fourth in the league, but Trojan goalkeepers have been fairly quiet, averaging just 3.29 saves per match, the lightest workload in the conference.
• Entering play this week, eight CCAC teams (including TIU) have picked up at least one shutout this season; Olivet Nazarene has recorded a league-high three shutouts.
Individual Stats
• Samantha Yasatan has been one of the strongest offensive players in the nation this season, and ranks 1st in the CCAC in six different statistical categories. The junior tops the conference in shots taken per game (5.86), total shots (41), points (29) and points average (4.14), goals, (14) and goals average (2.0).
• Yasatan also sits 2nd in the NAIA in goals per game, 3rd in points per game, 4th in total goals and total points, 9th in shots on goal per game (3.43), and 10th in shots per game.
• Four Trojans are in the top ten in the CCAC in assists, led by Melissa Loretto, with five (2nd in CCAC). Kathryn Baccash, Morgan Elzinga, and Michele Streekstra all have three assists on the season, good for 5th in the conference.
• Elzinga has recorded four game-winning goals, and has picked up the game-winner in 57% of all matches this season, the highest percentage in the NAIA. Her four game-winners ranks 3rd nationally, and tops the CCAC.
Scouting the Opponents
Trinity Christian
• The Trolls wrapped up a four-match road swing last weekend, going 1-2-1 over the trip and picking up a win in their conference opener, 8-0 over Purdue Calumet.
• Trinity Christian had gone three straight matches without a goal scored until the outburst against the Peregrines last Tuesday. Defensively, the Trolls have allowed one or fewer goals in six of their eight matches this season.
• All-CCAC forward Rachael Webb leads the team with six goals this season, tied for 5th in the CCAC. She ranks 23rd in the NAIA with an average of 2.88 shots on goal per game.
• Goalkeeper Jesse Bultsma leads the CCAC with a 0.80 goals against average, and is tied for 2nd in the league with an .800 save percentage.
• The Trolls have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with Trinity International, including the last three matchups.
Olivet Nazarene
• The Tigers have won three straight, including their first two conference matches, against Holy Cross and Judson. ONU has allowed just one goal over that stretch, outscoring their three opponents 9-1.
• Olivet Nazarene ranks 9th in the CCAC with 1.62 goals per game. They have the conference's third-lowest goals allowed average, giving up just 1.25 scores each match.
• ONU returns a conference-high three All-CCAC first-teamers from last year, in forward Elizabeth Hetrick, midfielder Katie Smith, and goalkeeper Sarah Vrosh. Hetrick is 6th in the CCAC with 2.75 shots taken per game, while Vrosh leads the league in save percentage (.804), and is 4th in goals against average (1.27).
• Last season, the Trojans beat the Tigers in a shootout, 3-2, to claim the CCAC Tournament title and advance to the NAIA Women's Soccer Championship. Prior to that meeting, Olivet Nazarene had won seven straight matchups over the Trojans.
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.
