ANGOLA, Ind. – On Wednesday afternoon, the Trine University men's soccer team was able to use a strong second half to down The University of Olivet by a score of 3-2. Each team netted a goal in the first half and the Thunder rattled off two in a row to begin the second half and clinch the win.
The victory is the first for Trine in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play and the team is now 3-5-3 overall and 1-1-1 inside the conference. The Comets fall to 1-4-6 and 0-1-2.
The Thunder were on the attack in the first half and forced the opposing keeper to make three saves to keep the match scoreless through the first 30 minutes. A free kick in the 35th minute provided the opportunity for Trine's first score. Liam Zimmerman sent it into the box for Gavin Hardy to head home to go up 1-0.
Just before halftime, Olivet was able to answer with a goal on their own free kick. After a scramble in the box and a collision involving the goalkeeper Dillon Lambert (1-2-1), the ball found its way into the back of the net off the head of the opponent in the 43rd minute.
The Comets nearly took the lead after they got behind the defense but missed wide, but the Thunder would turn the tables and score themselves in the 59th minute of play. After assisting on the match's first goal, Zimmerman fired a shot from the top of the box to go ahead 2-1. Francesco Mazzei provided the assist on the play.
The onslaught continued in the 72nd minute when Jarick Aguilar added on for Trine. Brayden Macy provided the pass into the scoring area for the midfielder to send it home to go up 3-1.
The two-goal advantage would lead to a flurry of substitutes entering the game for the Thunder and they would have trouble controlling the ball, leading to a score for Olivet to get back to within one at 3-2. The Comets had the final opportunity to try to tie the game in the closing seconds of the match, but the defense was able to block a pair of shots in the 90th minute to seal the win.
Trine outshot their opponents 16-8 with 11 of those chances on target. Tyler Murphy led the way with four total shots while Zimmerman and Hardy each had three attempts.
Next up for the Thunder is a road match at Albion College on Saturday, October 14 beginning at 2:30 p.m.