GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Despite a resilient effort, the Trojans dropped a tight 2-0 decision on the road to the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University on Wednesday afternoon.
After taking the long trek well into the mitten for a non-conference showdown, the Trojans struggled to gain momentum against a tough Cornerstone side, again tapping into a bend-but-don't-break, all-hands-on-deck mentality on the defensive end led by workhorses Zoe Villont, Morgan Busick, and Micah Wassink. Trinity was also playing with confidence with their standout keeper, Sarah Davis, anchoring the back line. Davis, fresh off a 13-save clean sheet that saw her earn NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week and CCAC Player of the Week honors, flawlessly handled the first few chances flung her way as the game continued on level terms for the greater part of the first half. Finally, the Golden Eagles broke through in the 33rd minute, pouncing on a rebound from another Davis save to pull ahead, 1-0. The Trojan defensive unit kicked into gear to finish the period, not allowing another Cornerstone shot on goal to keep the halftime score at a one-goal deficit.
While the Trojan offense continued to struggle against a stifling Golden Eagle side, Trinity's defensive mentality again yielded results in the second half. Despite conceding 12 shot attempts and five corners in the half, the Trojans allowed just a singular goal, coming off a nifty ball that was tucked into the left side of the net on the receiving end of a corner kick to set what would prove to be the final margin, 2-0 Cornerstone. Davis continued her stretch of outstanding play by finishing the contest with 10 saves, giving her an outstanding .920 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average in her last two matches, a dramatic improvement after she posted marks of .500 and 7.50, respectively, through her first two contests. Despite the lack of offensive firepower, the Trojans certainly showed their heart against a quality opponent, with eight of the eleven starters playing the full 90 minutes and every starter notching at least 75 minutes of action.
Up Next:
The Trojans (0-3-1) will attempt to build on their encouraging efforts and get in the win column in a tough CCAC matchup against the Cougars of St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, September 10.
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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.
