(Story courtesy of the Trinity University athletics website)
AMHERST, Mass. - The second-ranked Trinity men's soccer season came to a close Sunday afternoon, as the Tigers were edged 1-0 in double-overtime by the host Amherst College in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals.
Trinity completed its season with a 22-3-0 record, and advanced to the quarterfinals for the third straight time. Fourth-ranked Amherst improved to 17-1-1, and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals, to be held December 4 at Kansas City, Missouri.
"We came a long way," said Trinity Head Coach Paul McGinlay. After a mid-season hiccup of 5-2, they rattled off 17 straight wins. I felt that we could have made it 18 today. We played well, we played hard, we were organized, we defended well, and we created soem chances. But a slip-up on a long throw in overtime and the game's over. It was just one moment where we didn't clear the ball, and their forward got on the end of it first. That's the difference, just one moment. It was just going to be one moment that was going to win the game, and they got it. Both keepers played very well. They were both under some heavy bouts of pressure, and both keepers dealt with it. It was always going to be one goal that was going to decide the game. It was just so tight. Unfortunately, we didn't get it."
The defensive battle ended five minutes into the second OT period, as Amherst produced the winning sudden-victory goal. Tiger goalkeeper Chad Margotta recorded eight saves in the game, including one in the first overtime period. He finished the season with 89 saves to his credit, and allowed only nine goals in 25 games, for a 0.36 goals-against average. The Tigers made five shots on goal, including two by Christian Sakshaug, while the Lord Jeffs had nine on the mark.
Trinity had won 17 consecutive games prior to Sunday's loss. The Tigers, competing in their 14th consecutive NCAA Postseason, began the Playoffs with a 3-0 shutout over the University of Texas-Dallas on November 14 on Trinity's field. The next day, Trinity blanked the University of Redlands (CA) 1-0 in the second round, and moved on to Amherst for the round of 16. The Tigers shut out Brandeis (MA) University 2-0 in Saturday's third round. It marked the second win over the Judges, as Trinity was a 2-0 winner earlier in the season in a home game.
Coach McGinlay also reflected on his senior class: "Our senior class, this has been a great team to work with, a great team to coach. As always, we mourn the loss of our seniors, but the cupboard's not bare. We have some good players returning. It's really a tribute to the senior class, the legacy of going to three quarterfinals, winning four conference championships. It was a great group of players."
