PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis men's soccer team suffered a 4-0 loss against Trinity Christian College to begin Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at the Schaaf Athletic Complex. The Fighting Saints (4-2, 0-1 CCAC) held the hosts (7-2, 1-0) scoreless at the half, but ultimately allowed four goals after the break to give the Trolls their first conference victory.
First Half
Both teams started the match strong defensively as neither squad allowed an open look at the net through the first 10 minutes of the contest. Trinity Christian would showcase a more aggressive approach throughout the remainder of the half, however, weaving through the USF defense for a total of 10 shot attempts to St. Francis' two. The Trolls' best look of the half came in the 42nd minute when a breakaway shot resulted in a rejection from the crossbar to keep both teams scoreless heading into the intermission.
Second Half
St. Francis gained a shot to score early in the second half. Senior midfielder
Jesus Flores authored an on-target attempt just eight seconds into play only to result in a save by TCC keeper Giorgos Christodoulo. The Trolls would control possession over the next 15 minutes, registering three corner kicks and two shots on goal. A costly USF mistake of fouling in the box gave TCC a penalty kick in the 55th minute. The Trolls would be successful on their PK attempt to break the tie and jump ahead 1-0. Two additional TCC goals would be scored over the next 15 minutes before
Ander Santamarta took a try on goal for USF at the 71:40 mark. Trinity Christian responded by continuing to apply offensive pressure against the Saints, while also not allowing another Saint shot the remainder of the afternoon. Before the final horn sounded, the Trolls would extend their lead to 4-0 with a late goal in the 88th minute.
Saints goalkeeper
Fede Figueredo kept the Trolls off the board with three saves in the first half, but the constant offensive pressure from TCC in the second half would prove to be too much. In total, Figueredo would record eight saves in the match. USF took only four shots in the game compared to Trinity Christian's 23.
Up Next
The Saints look to rebound from Saturday's loss on Tuesday, September 24 when they face off in a home contest against CCAC foe Holy Cross College (Ind.). The match is penciled in to begin at 7 pm.
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