HOUSTON, Texas -- A late first half goal was all second-seeded Trinity University needed as the Tigers held on for a 1-0 semifinal round victory over third-seeded Southwestern University Friday evening at SaberCats Stadium. Official Championships Website | Tournament Stats | Photo Album | Interview w/ Head Coach Paul McGinlay and sophomore Samuel Theiss
Sophomore midfielder Samuel Theiss, off an assist from junior midfielder Adam Kutson, scored with less than three minutes to go in the first half and Trinity made the goal stand up to advance to Sunday's final where, for the fourth consecutive year, Trinity and St. Thomas will match-up for the men's soccer tournament crown. It is Trinity's 13th tournament final appearance in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Theiss' goal, the game-winner, was his fifth of the season. Knutson, the league's leading scorer, added his fifth assist of the season.
- Trinity outshot Southwestern, 11-7, and held an 8-4 advantage in corners. The Tigers held the Pirates to no shots on goal while Trinity had three on frame.
- Trinity held a 59 to 41 percent possession advantage.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Samuel Theiss (M): 2 shots, 1 shot on goal, 1 goal
- Adam Knutson (M): 3 shots, 2 shots on goal, 1 assist
- Omkar Satpathy (GK): 90 minutes, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Cooper Pero (D): 2 shots
- Raghav Sharma (D): 2 shots
- Scott Johnson (GK): 90 minutes, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves
NOTABLES
- Trinity advances to its fourth consecutive SCAC championship game and 13th final in total. Trinity, which last won the SCAC tournament title in 2018, is 6-3-3 in its previous championship match appearances.
- Trinity is 4-0-1 all-time against Southwestern in SCAC tournament play.
- This was the second consecutive year Trinity and Southwestern have met in the semifinal round. Last year, Trinity advanced with a 3-0 victory.
- Southwestern ends its season with an 11-3-4 mark.
UP NEXT
With the win, Trinity (15-1-3) advances to its fourth consecutive SCAC title game where the Tigers will square off against St. Thomas, a repeat of the last three championship matches. St. Thomas knocked off Trinity, 1-0, in the 2021 title game, 3-1 in the 2022 game and pulled out a victory in penalty kicks in last year's match-up. This year's men's championship is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at SaberCats Stadium. This is the first time in men's soccer tournament history that the same two teams have played in the championship match for four consecutive years.
