(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
TACOMA, Wash. - After being tied 1-1 after two overtimes, the Trinity Men's Soccer Team lost in penalty kicks by a score of 4-2. During the NCAA Playoffs, the match ends as a tie if both teams are still tied after two overtimes but both teams then go to a penalty kick shootout. The PK shootout is formatted for each team to take five shots to determine a winner.
Both the Tigers and the Lutes took five shots in the first half of the match. Unfortunately for the Tigers, none of their five shots were on target. After 45 minutes of play, TU and PLU were tied 1-1. 52 minutes into the match, first-year forward Michael Meese found the back of the net for the first goal of the day for either side. The Tigers seemed to be in really good shape but PLU scored the equalizer in the 76th minute of the match. For the remainder of the second half, both teams applied pressure and had scoring chances but nothing came of them.
Trinity and Pacific Lutheran were still tied 1-1 after going into double overtime so both sides rounded up their shot takers for the shootout.
PLU's Craig Johnson made the first kick to give the Lutes a 1-0 advantage in PK's. Junior midfielder Jack Downes answered by making his penalty kick to even the score. Cris Lozano of the Lutes made his kick to put PLU back in front but first-year midfielder Hunter Cain buried his shot to again tie the score. Cole Dobson of PLU made the third PK which put the Lutes right back in front. Senior midfielder Fraser Burns hit a good ball but the Pacific Lutheran goalkeeper made a fantastic stop to give the Lutes a 3-2 advantage. Dane Helle of the Lutes made his PK which gave Pacific Lutheran a 4-2 advantage. In the Tigers last opportunity, senior Michael Somerville came up short. The Tigers ended up losing 4-2 in the penalty shootout. Trinity ends the season with a record of (16-1-2, 8-0-1 SCAC).