ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's soccer team played Hope College to a draw on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 1-1. The team's traded penalty kick goals in the match, with each team converting on their only free opportunities.
Despite the 12-5 shot differential in favor of the Thunder, the draw makes their record 7-4-3 this season and 2-1-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. It is the sixth tie of 2022 for the Flying Dutch as Hope holds a record of 5-3-6 overall and 3-1-1 in league action.
"Had we won that one, we would have been in good position to lock up second, but now we have to see how everything else shakes out," head coach David Jacobs mentioned post-match.
The Trine opportunity came in just the eighth minute of the match when junior Tyler Murphy was fouled inside the box, giving him his fourth penalty attempt of the season. Just as in all three other instances, Murphy came up big with the spotlight on him for a goal, his seventh of the year.
Luke Kearns, Joey Donovan and Liam Zimmerman all had chances for a score to extend the lead, but all were unable to cash in. In the 27th minute, Hope's only shot of the first half was saved by the keeper Aidan McGonagle.
The Flying Dutch were able to manufacture some better looks in half number two, but aggressive play by the defense kept Hope in check. It would be an unfortunate misplay in the 62nd minute that led to a foul inside the box and penalty kick score to knot the match up at one apiece. A Trine defender slipped on the muddy surface from recent rain and that led to the Flying Dutch drawing a foul inside to prevent an easy score attempt.
The ball found its way into the back of the net once more in the 69th minute that looked as though it would give the home team the lead, but an offsides call negated the score and kept the ballgame tied up.
Each team had one final opportunity in the 74th minute, but both shots were turned away by the team's keepers. McGonagle recorded his second save of the day on the initial shot and Donovan had a chance at the other end, but the Hope goalkeeper was there to make the save with a slide.
"Our team played really well, we just couldn't get the result in the end," the forward Murphy said.
Zimmerman and Donovan shared the wealth at four shots apiece to pace the Thunder offense. Donovan, Murphy and Ryan Cote were the only ones to put shots on goal. Gavin Hardy, Jared Cromwell and Colin Nicoski on the back row helped to keep Hope to just three shots on goal.
Up next, Trine makes the trip to Alma College on Sunday, October 23 to take on the Scots. Kick-off is set for 1 pm.