DEERFIELD, Ill. - A battle of CCAC unbeatens resulted in Trinity International putting up their best offensive game of the season, scoring a season-high four goals in a 4-1 victory over the Purdue-Northwest Pride on Tuesday afternoon.
Box Score | Season Stats
The Trojans (3-4-2, 2-0-1 CCAC) struck early and often in the first half, controlling possession throughout much of the opening period. After a few chances in the first few minutes were cleared away by the PNW defense, a pass into the box from midfielder
Zach Reget would find the back of the net in the 11th minute, deflected off the foot of senior
Noah Smith. The goal is the first of the season for Smith, and the second in his Trojan career.
Less than five minutes later,
Francesco De Felice doubled Trinity's lead, firing a shot just under the crossbar for his second goal of 2016.
Purdue-Northwest (3-4-3, 1-1-2 CCAC) would start to build some momentum after a mass substitution saw five new players come onto the pitch in the 21st minute. PNW would out-shoot Trinity 5-2 through the rest of the first half, but the one shot on goal was stopped by TIU goalkeeper
Jared Yonke.
A handball inside the penalty area was called on the Pride in the 38th minute, setting up Reget for a penalty kick and putting the Trojans in front 3-0, as Reget converted for his third goal this season, and 24th of his career.
The Pride responded early in the second half, as PNW's Jaime Garcia scored on a header in the 62nd minute to close the gap to 3-1. Trinity's defense would tighten up the rest of the way however, not allowing a comeback in the closing minutes. Yonke recorded six saves in his final 30 minutes of work, finshing with nine on the night.
Nathaniel Michaelis would close out the night with a goal in the 81st minute, to match Reget for the season lead and score his third goal of the year. Reget finished the night with four points overall, recording assists on each of the first two goals in the match.
The Trojans remain unbeaten in conference play, and with seven points through three matches, have their best CCAC record at this point in the season in over a decade. Trinity will look to continue the momentum this weekend, when they travel to St. Francis for a weekend matchup. Kickoff against the Saints is set for Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2:30 p.m.