DEERFIELD, Ill. --- Anthony Derka got things started early for the University of St. Francis men's soccer team and the Fighting Saints used that momentum to score an important 3-1 win over Trinity International University in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday afternoon.

The victory moved USF (5-6-2, 3-4-1 CCAC) back into contention for one of the final playoff spots with four matches to go in the regular season.

Derka's goal from Ander Santamarta came in the seventh minute as part of a four-goal first half between the two teams.  Neither squad would score in the second half when only five shots on goal were attempted between the two clubs.

William Martinez would produce the game-winning goal in the 26th minute, just three minutes before Trinity International (6-6, 4-4) cut the deficit in half at 2-1.

Sergio Fernandez-Arango then closed out the busy first half with his team-leading seventh goal of the season off a pass from Cameron Schroder.

The Saints outshot Trinity International by a 10-shot margin, 23-13, including 9-6 in attempts on goal.

Carson Heglund earned the victory in goal for the Saints, stopping five shots on the afternoon.

Notes: The win gave the Saints ten points on the season in league games, leaving them one point short of the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament … Fernandez-Arango gained a share of the team lead in goals with Santos Contreras.  Both players are also a part of a four-way tie for the No. 5 spot in the league in goals scored … Fernandez-Arango maintained runner-up honors in total points in the league, as well, with his 21 … Schroder extended his point streak to three matches with his third assist of the season … Martinez' goal was his fifth of the campaign to move into a tie for third place on the team in that category … Derka authored his third goal of the season, while Santamarta provided his first assist of the year … The Saints are back home on Saturday when they face Trinity Christian College in a conference match beginning at 3:30 pm.

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