LISLE, Ill. – The Trine University men's soccer team were upended by Benedictine University in Illinois on Sunday afternoon by a score of 2-1.
The loss breaks up a two-game winning streak for the Thunder, as they fall to 3-2 in the 2021 season. Benedictine advances to 3-1-1.
The first half looked similar to the first half of Trine's most recent game versus Heidelberg, with neither team getting very many good looks at the net.
The Thunder were only able to be credited with two shots, both of which were blocked by Eagle defenders. In the 42nd minute, Benedictine was able to score to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room for halftime.
Francesco Mazzei [Dearborn, Mich. / Dearborn] and Grant Deaton [Goodrich, Mich. / Goodrich] recorded the first shots in the second half as the Thunder tried to tie the match up, but both were high.
Unfortunately, the Eagles were able to take a 2-0 lead with a penalty kick goal in the 67th minute.
Tyler Murphy [Greenfield, Ind. / Greenfield Central] took a free kick in the 75th that ended up in the back of the net after deflecting off a Benedictine defender to cut the deficit in half. It is Murphy's team-high fifth goal of the young season.
Try as they might, the Thunder were unable to put together another scoring opportunity and fell 2-1 in the match.
Goalkeeper Troy Saylor [Caledonia, Mich. / Caledonia] made four saves for Trine.
The six-match road trip to start the season concludes in their next match on September 18 at Otterbein University. It is a 7 pm primetime kickoff.