SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Stokes McConnell converted a penalty kick on a foul drawn by Lörinc Loboda in the first period but seventh-ranked Trinity University netted two second-half goals, holding off Sewanee, 2-1, in men's soccer action here Saturday night at Puett Field.
Sewanee goalkeeper
Nathan Vanhoeve made seven saves, many of them on point-blank shots by Trinity, keeping his team in the match for as long as possible.
The Tigers (10-3-3, 1-2-1 SAA) got on the board in the 33
rd minute when Loboda challenged a back pass and was fouled by Trinity goalkeeper Brandon Gongora in the box. McConnell connected on the PK, his seventh goal of the year, and it remained 1-0 at the half.
Trinity (11-1-0, 4-0-0) peppered the net, with Vanhoeve turning away shots by Max Salinas and Samuel Theiss midway through the first period and another chance by Salinas later in the half.
Trinity missed a chance to even the match early in the second half when Julian Lopez drilled the crossbar from near the penalty spot and the rebound by Alex Baltov sailed high. Trinity equalized in the 64
th minute, though, with Luke Mayfield crossing from the right to Thomas Kay, who fired high and left, into the goal.
The final goal came after a corner kick by Trinity, with a header played across the net and deflected. Salinas half-volleyed in the game-winner in the 83
rd minute.
Trinity nearly scored again, with Vanhoeve blocking a shot on the door step by Adam Knutson and somehow turning away the rebound from Hodge MacDonald, a shot that looked like it was headed into an empty net.
Gongora did not post a save in the first half and Jayden Schell collected two in the second half for Trinity.
Sewanee hosts Oglethorpe University and Berry College next weekend on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
