HOUSTON, Texas -- Two goals in the game's first 10 minutes, including an own goal to open the scoring, was all Trinity University needed as the second-seeded Tigers cruised to a 3-0 semifinal round victory over third-seeded Southwestern University Friday evening at SaberCats Stadium. Official Championships Website | Tournament Stats | Photo Album | Interview w/ Trinity head coach Paul McGinlay and senior Louis Instrall
With the victory, Trinity advances to play St. Thomas, the third consecutive year the two will match-up in the SCAC men's soccer tournament final. It is Trinity's 12th tournament final appearance in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A rare own goal opened the scoring in the third minute as a long free kick by Trinity was redirected into the net by a Southwestern defender.
- Less than six minutes later, Trinity's Louis Instrall scored in a more traditional manner, finding the net on a corner that curled in untouched.
- Holding a 2-0 lead, any thoughts of a Southwestern comeback were squashed early in the second half when the Tigers' Braden Shuey pushed through his third goal of the season in the 54th minute to provide the final 3-0 margin.
- Trinity outshot Southwestern, 10-3, and held a 6-1 advantage in corners.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Louis Instrall (M): 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
- Braden Shuey (M): 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
- Michael Meese (F): 3 shots
- Austin Wilman (GK): 90 minutes, 0 goals allowed, 1 save
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Mofe Ariyo (F): 2 shots
- Ashton Bynum (M): 1 shots, 1 shot on goal
- Brendan Prather (GK): 90 minutes, 3 goals allowed, 5 saves
NOTABLES
- The own goal was just the second in SCAC men's tournament history. Texas Lutheran was the beneficiary of an own goal in its, 2-0, quarterfinal victory against Southwestern in 2015.
- Trinity advances to its third consecutive SCAC championship game and 12th final in total. Trinity, which last won the SCAC tournament title in 2018, is 6-3-2 in their previous championship match appearances.
- Trinity is 3-0-1 all-time against Southwestern in SCAC tournament play.
- This was the second consecutive year St. Thomas and Southwestern have met in the semifinal round. Last year, St. Thomas advanced with a 1-0 victory.
- Southwestern (10-3-3), who was ranked fifth in the NCAA Region X rankings heading into the tournament, will await word of a possible at-large berth when announcments go out on Monday.
UP NEXT
With the win, Trinity (12-2-2) advances to its third consecutive SCAC title game where the Tigers will square off against St. Thomas, a repeat of the last two championship matches. St. Thomas knocked off Trinity, 1-0, in the 2021 title game and 3-1 in last year's match-up. This year's men's championship is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at SaberCats Stadium. This is second time in men's soccer tournament history that the same two teams have played in the championship match in back-to-back-to-back seasons. Trinity and Colorado squared off in three consecutive title matches from 2014 to 2016.
