BANNOCKBURN, Ill.. — At six-foot-three, 236 pounds, there's nothing small about Trojan goalkeeper Armin Mahmutovic. However large and imposing his physical stature, Mahmutovic somehow managed to loom even larger by means of his play throughout this past week with a pair of sparkling outings that propelled the Trojans to the postseason and earned him NCCAA and CCAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition!

The Trojans, who started the season red-hot, entered the week having gone winless in their last five conference matches. Still on the cusp of clinching a postseason appearance, Mahmutovic did everything in his power to get the Trojans back on track. After traveling across the Indiana border to face Calumet College of St. Joseph, the standout keeper was flawless, stopping all three shots flung his way while also fending off two corners en route to a dominant 4-0 clean sheet victory. While Mahmutovic's midweek effort against Calumet was doubtless an impressive one, he took his game up another notch in Saturday's battle with the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose. Knowing a win would vault the Trojans into the playoffs, Trinity started out strong behind a goal from TK Garside just over two minutes after the opening boot. That, coupled with the fact that the Trojans were unable to tack on to the slim lead, meant Mahmutovic would spend the next 88 minutes nursing a one-goal advantage. While the Bees swarmed the goal mouth all afternoon, ripping 14 shot attempts, six of which were on frame, and winning five corners, Mahmutovic held firm, keeping the Bees scoreless and willing the Trojans into the postseason with the 1-0 victory.

All told, the sensational week for Mahmutovic (2-0, 0.00 GAA, 9 saves, 2 clean sheets) was simply the latest chapter of a sensational campaign for the sophomore. After bursting onto the scene as a rookie in 2021, Mahmutovic has elevated his game to a whole new level this season, compiling a 1.31 GAA, an impressive figure that is supported by his remarkable .806 save percentage. Both figures put him in the top ten for single season records in the Trojan history books, while his most recent shut out draws even with the season record at seven. Mahmutovic's exploits in goal have been a key ingredient in the Trojans' winning formula this year, as the iron man keeper has played every minute between the pipes this season while the team has posted a 9-6-1 record, tripling last season's win total. The importance of Mahmutovic's heroics to the Trojans' outstanding results cannot be overstated, as seven of the team's nine victories have come courtesy of the keeper's clean sheets, the team has yet to lose or draw when he keeps a clean sheet, and he has allowed just two goals in the Trojans' nine victories this season.

Mahmutovic and the playoff-bound Trojans will close out their regular season with a conference clash under the lights when they face off with Governors State University in Crown Point, Indiana, on October 29th at 8:30 p.m.

To read the NCCAA's release, click here. To read the CCAC's release, click here.
 

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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.