WINONA LAKE, Ind. --- Four months after playing a shortened, postponed season due to COVID-19, the TIU men's soccer team returned to their regular fall schedule on Tuesday night as they visited the reigning NCCAA national champion Grace Lancers in Indiana to kickoff the 2021 season. Coming off a difficult 4-9 campaign in the spring, the Trojans looked to improve heading into the program's 52nd season with a tough test on the road.

For much of the first half, Trinity played defense as the Lancers controlled the majority of possessions. Goalkeeper Daniel Hill was able to save three shots as Grace fired seven total shots his way in a half that saw the Trojans play very clean. The two squads would head into the halftime break scoreless.

The Trojans came out of halftime energized with six shot attempts in the opening minutes of the second period. None would find the back of the net however as the Lancers would march down the field and score late in the 59th on a goal by Martim Cardoso to break the deadlock. TIU would struggle to put the ball on goal for the remainder of the night as Grace added a second goal by Cardoso in the 78th minute, and a third by Bailey Whalley in the 87th, handing Trinity a 3-0 loss to begin the 2021 season.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• Tuesday's game was just the second all-time meeting between the Trojans and Lancers. Grace now leads the series 2-0 after winning the previous matchup from 2017.

• Xavier Brown's lone shot attempt against the Lancers was the 52nd of his career, tying him with Jared Ventura (2010-13) for tenth most in program history.

• Daniel Hill's six saves on Tuesday tie his career-high. Hill saved six shots on goal twice last season against Roosevelt and Governors State.

• TIU was outshot 16-7, and 9-3 in shots on goal in Tuesday's loss.

• Tuesday was Trinity's first match against a Crossroads League opponent since 2018. The Trojans are 2-9-2 in their last 13 meetings against opponents from the Crossroads dating back to 2006.

The Trojans (0-1-0) will return to action on Wednesday, August 25 as they visit the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats in Marion, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00pm EST at the IWU Soccer Field, and can be watched LIVE on the Wildcat 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.