BANNOCKBURN, Ill.. — On a beautiful Saturday from Schartner Field, the Trojans fell short against the Lakers of Roosevelt University, two goals to nil.
On a day that had already witnessed a women's soccer match and saw the football team playing concurrently, the homecoming celebration rolled on with the Trojan men's soccer match kicking off at 2:30. The first half was a tightly contested affair, largely due to the heroics of Trojan goalie and reigning NAIA Player of the Week Armin Mahmutovic, who racked up six saves in the first 45. The Trojan back line, led by captain Zach Mawdsley, also fought admirably in support of their keeper, blocking three Laker shots and helping the Trojans hold firm for the duration of the stanza, keeping the score at 0-0.
The action continued to ramp up in the second half, but the Lakers finally broke through in the 67th minute, burying a shot to draw first blood and seize a 1-0 lead. The Trojans kicked up the offensive intensity, winning four corners in the half, but just couldn't seem to wear down Roosevelt and score the equalizer. In the 83rd minute, the Lakers put it out of reach, scoring again to swell the advantage to 2-0. While the Trojans fought to the last, 2-0 would remain the final margin, sending the Trojans to back-to-back losses for just the first time this season.
While the match wasn't exactly a statistical hotbed, certain contributions can't be overlooked, such as another solid nine-save effort from standout Trojan keeper Armin Mahmutovic. Jovan Jankovic served as the main offensive spark plug for TIU, recording two shots including the only Trojan shot on goal. And the contributions of the defensive unit led by Mawdsley, Jamin Kuepfer, Edgar Barrientos, and Jesus Ramos were quite important as well, as they blocked four shots as a team and managed to keep the match close despite the Trojans being outdone on shot attempts by a staggering 20-4 margin.
Despite the recent lull, the Trojans (6-3-0) are still off to a remarkable start this season with plenty of games to go. They'll look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to square off with Grace Christian University in a non-conference showdown on Tuesday, October 4th.
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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.
