NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The TIU men's soccer team travelled to Indiana on Saturday afternoon as they faced off against the Saints of Holy Cross College (IN) in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play. Coming off a difficult 5-2 loss on Wednesday night at St. Francis (IL), the Trojans continued their mission to snap their recent losing streak and finish the season strong.

A physical battle from the opening whistle, the Saints scored the opening goal of the match just 12 minutes in off the foot of Elmin Ejup. Ejup would give Holy Cross a 2-0 lead in the 33rd minute on an assist by Gabe Nyenka, sending Trinity into halftime with a two goal deficit.

The opening of the second half would be flooded with offense with three total goals in the first four minutes of play. Xavier Brown would get the Trojans on the board in the 46th minute on an unassisted score, while the Saints answered with goals from Cliff Brown in the 47th, and Martin Von Thun in the 48th.

Trailing 4-1, TIU caught HCC off guard about 20 minutes later as Josiah Fuchs scored back-to-back goals in the span of 42 seconds. Despite the quick offense by Fuchs and Trinity, Holy Cross would answer with goals in the 71st and 87th minute, handing the Trojans the 6-3 loss.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• With their loss on Saturday, the Trojans fall to 5-6-2 all-time against Holy Cross. Both teams entered today's match with the series all even at five wins a piece.

• Saturday marked Trinity's fourth consecutive loss to the Saints. TIU's last win against HCC came in a 1-0 victory back on Oct. 19, 2016.

• Neither team had trouble shooting the ball, with HCC out shooting TIU 20-15, and 10-7 in shots on goal.

• Saturday's match was highly physical with 30 total fouls being called, including 19 by the Saints.

• TIU's three goal performance was the most they have scored since posting five goals against IU-Northwest on Sept. 15, their most recent victory.

• Xavier Brown's 46th minute goal was his fifth of the 2021 season, and 13th of his collegiate career.

• Josiah Fuchs' two goals were the fifth and sixth of his season, and 16th and 17th of his career.

• Fuchs is now tied with Tom Buhr (1984-85) and Petro Giannakopoulous (2008-12) for eighth on the program's all-time scoring list with his 17th career goal.
• Fuchs' assist on Brown's early second half goal was his tenth as a Trojan. He leads all active Trojans in the catagory.
• Nick Willard provided the assist on Fuchs' second goal on Saturday. It was Willard's first assist of the year, and second as a Trojan.
• Brown's assist on Fuch's second goal of the match was the seventh of his career.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (1-13-0) return to action on Tuesday afternoon as they host the Crimson Wave of Calumet St. Joseph in conference action. Kickoff is set for 4:00pm CST at Schartner Field, with the game being streamed LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network.
 

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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.