WAUKEGAN, Wisc. --- The TIU men's soccer team hosted the Saint Xavier University Cougars at the Waukegan Sports Park on Saturday night in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action. Coming off a tough 3-0 loss to the reigning CCAC champions in Cardinal Stritch, the Trojans looked to rebound from their first loss of the season with a home victory.

The Trojans began the match by holding a great amount of ball possession, but struggled to find the target while the Cougars had a few opportunities to capitalize. Late in the first half, SXU forward Ricardo Avalos stole the ball off the Trojans and stuck one behind Trinity goalkeeper Andre Wentzel to put the Cougars up 1-0 in the 42nd minute.

The second half would feature more possession by the Cougars, but more shooting opportunities for the Trojans, who had a few quality opportunities but could not seem to find the net. Saint Xavier's Kyle Skopec would net a second Cougar goal in the 79th minute past Wentzel to double their lead to 2-0 and hold off any late momentum by TIU, handing the Trojans the two goal loss.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• Saturday's loss drops TIU to 3-13-1 all-time against Saint Xavier. The Trojans last win against the Cougars came on Sept. 22, 2015 in a 3-2 win at home.

• The loss marks the first time TIU has been shutout in back-to-back losses since falling to Trinity Christian and Robert Morris (IL) in October of 2018.

• Trinity has now began the previous three seasons splitting their first four matches.

• Both teams were heavily penalized in the first half, with 12 fouls going against the Cougars and 11 towards the Trojans.

• Josiah Fuchs and Trenton Garside would each get two shots on goal in the loss, accounting for four of Trinity's eight shots towards the net.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (2-2-0) will return to action on Wednesday, March 17 as they visit the Trinity Christian Trolls in conference play in the Battle for the Trinity Shield. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00pm from TCC's Shaaf Field, and can be watched LIVE on the TCC Trolls Sports Network.

Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU men's soccer news and schedule updates.

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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.