ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine women's soccer team opened up its season with a 3-1 victory over Manchester Tuesday night under the lights of Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.
Carly Osinski (Noblesville, Ind./Guerin Catholic) and Shannon Hicks (Marshall, Mich.) scored goals for the Thunder. Trine added a goal when a Manchester defender kicked the ball into her own goal off a Skyler Reed (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) shot attempt. The Thunder controlled possession throughout most of the match and finished with a 19-5 advantage in shot attempts. Trine opens the season 1-0, while Manchester falls to 0-1.
Kristina Veljovic (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) played the full 90 minutes in net and made two saves to earn the victory. The win was the first of the sophomore's collegiate career.
It took the Thunder just under two minutes to get their first tally of the season. Osinski forced a turnover, collected the ball and unleashed a long shot from 30-yards out to beat the goalkeeper and make the score 1-0. Osinski put pressure on the Spartan defenders all night, getting off six shots.
Trine made the score 2-0 when a Manchester defender deflected Reed's shot into the net. Reed beat the goalkeeper with a shot, but a Spartan defender kicked the ball into her own net on an attempt to clear the ball from the crease.
Manchester tightened up the match early in the second half when Brandy Crouse corralled a rebound off an Elena White shot on goal, and deposited the ball into the back of the net to cut the score to 2-1.
Hicks' first collegiate goal came at a big moment to give the Thunder some breathing room later in the second half. Hicks gained possession off a loose ball in the box and unleashed a left-footer that beat the keeper in the far corner for a 3-1 Trine lead. Hicks also collected two shots on goal in her debut for the Thunder.
Trine returns to action Friday, Sept. 4 when they travel to Illinois Tech. The match is slated to begin at 8 p.m CDT.
