(Portions of this story courtesy of Trinity University)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The second-ranked Trinity Tigers women’s soccer team earned a slot in the NCAA Division III Semifinals with a 2-1 victory over the No. 4 Wheaton (IL) Thunder on Saturday evening. Box Score | Sectional Website | Interactive Bracket
Trinity (24-0-2) will play the winner of sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins and No. 13 Middlebury in the next round, on Friday, December 6, at San Antonio’s Toyota Field. The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships (December 6-7) will be co-hosted by Trinity and San Antonio Sports, for the fifth straight year.
The Tigers Kimberly Polasek broke a 1-1 deadlock with the eventual game-winning goal in the 72nd minute of play, with an assist from Hannah Kuhl.
Wheaton (21-2-2) lit up the board first as Sydney Sharkey scored an unassisted goal in the 33rd minute. But Trinity’s Hannah Kuhl scored the equalizer just two minutes later, as Emily Jorgens supplied the assist. It marked the 29th assist of the campaign for Jorgens, leaving her one shy of tying the NCAA single-season record.
Tiger goalkeeper Devan Osegueda recorded three saves in the game, while the Thunder keeper, Kelsey Graham, had four. The teams were close in total shots, as Trinity took 13, and Wheaton had 12. The Tigers held a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Trinity began the Sectional Tournament with a 2-1 win Friday over Montclair State University to reach today's quarterfinal. It marked the third time the Tigers had reached the final eight under Head Coach Lance Key.
The win will push Trinity to its first NCAA Semifinal appearance under Coach Key. Trinity will play in the NCAA Semifinals for the third time in program history, after previously making it in both 2000 and 2002.
