ALBION, Mich. – The Trine University men's soccer team secured their second consecutive win on Saturday at Albion College by a score of 1-0. The Thunder were dominant in the shot differential at 19-6 in total.
The win pushes Trine's record to 4-5-3 overall and 2-1-1 inside Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. Albion falls to 7-4-1 and now holds an identical 2-1-1 record in league action.
A penalty kick was awarded to the Britons in minute number five, but the opponent failed to convert the scoring opportunity. Later on, freshman goalkeeper Dillon Lambert made his first save of the afternoon on a shot coming off of a corner kick.
Following shots that were off target, sophomore Liam Zimmerman put the Albion goalkeeper into action in the 28th minute. Towards the end of the first half, the Thunder would pepper the net trying to break the tie. Zimmerman, senior Tyler Murphy and sophomore Evan Komrska each put shots on goal within the final five minutes of play, but the score remained deadlocked at the half.
Once more early in the second half, Trine was feverish to get ahead. Sophomore Ryan Cote nailed the crossbar with a shot in the 59th minute and shots on goal were recorded by senior Joey Donovan and freshman Landon Moreland as the period went on.
A failed clearance by the Briton defense was the catalyst for the Thunder to break the scoreless match. A free kick after an issuance of a yellow card allowed Trine to put the ball inside the box and Komrska was in position to take advantage of a miscue near the net for his first goal of the season.
Lambert (2-2-1) would make a pair of saves in the 82nd and 84th minutes to preserve the shutout in the 1-0 victory and give him three saves in the match. The defensive line of Cote, Zimmerman, sophomore Luke Kearns and sophomore Gavin Hardy helped keep Albion out of the scoring column as well.
The Thunder will take on Hope College in their next match. Trine men's soccer hits the road on Tuesday, October 17 with kick-off slated for 7 p.m.