DEERFIELD, Ill. - After scoring a total of three goals in their first five matches, the Trinity International offense exploded Wednesday afternoon, putting away five goals in a 5-2 win over St. Xavier at Schartner Field. 

Box Score | Season Stats

Senior Morgan Elzinga put away two of the Trojans (2-3-1, 1-1 CCAC) scores, including the eventual game-winner. Trinity looked in control throughout much of the first half, outshooting the Cougars (2-5, 0-1 CCAC) by an 16-1 margin.

Elzinga gave TIU the lead with a header in the 34th minute, off the pass from freshman Isabelle Danner. Just five minutes later, the Trojans took a two-goal lead, when Layla Zahniser put away her first goal of the season, with Danner and Jillian Kolster picking up assists on the play.

Coming out of the halftime break, the Trojans continued to look strong in attack, again taking more shots than their opponents, 13-6. Elzinga struck again in the 69th minute, as senior Samantha Yasatan broke free from the left side of the goal and passed back to the Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. native for a 3-0 lead.

For a moment, St. Xavier looked poised to rally back, as a couple of quick scores got the Cougars back in the game. SXU's Christina Sperando put her team on the board in the 77th minute, after the Trojan defense was called for a penalty. Two minutes later, Mariana Hoerr scored to make it a 3-2 Trojan advantage.

TIU bounced back and shut the door on the comeback in the closing minutes. Taylor Richards scored her first career goal at the 84-minute mark to bump the Trinity lead back to two goals, on a crossing pass from the right that crossed into the goal just before the SXU defense could clear the ball. Freshman Heather Ortiz then finished the game for good in the 86th minute, finding the rebound off of Yasatan's blocked shot and putting it away for her first career goal.

"I was very proud of the ladies today, and how they came out for the match," said TIU head coach Patrick Gilliam after the match. "We talked in the last few days about some things that we could improve upon in the attacking half of the field, and I think we executed those very well. While it was hard to be 14 minutes away from a shutout, and suddenly find yourself in a 3-2 game, I actually believe the circumstances drew out of us a lot of resiliency and perseverance, something that I think will benefit us as we continue down the road during the conference season."

Before continuing with CCAC play, the Trojans will host Missouri Baptist in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, September 26. Kickoff against the Spartans is set for 12:00 p.m.