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Trine University

MSOC MIAA Champions 10-29-24
0
Hope HOPE (13-1-3, 5-0-2)
0
Trine TRINE (7-6-2, 5-0-2)
Hope HOPE
(13-1-3, 5-0-2)
0
Final
0
Trine TRINE
(7-6-2, 5-0-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hope HOPE 0 0 0
Trine TRINE 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Draw Against Hope Secures First MIAA Championship for Men's Soccer

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's soccer team secured a share of their first ever Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Regular Season Title with a scoreless draw against nationally ranked Hope College.

Both the Flying Dutch, who are ranked 16th in the nation according to United Soccer Coaches, and the Thunder entered the contest with 5-0-1 records in conference play. With the draw they share the conference title both finishing 5-0-2. Trine takes the top seed in the upcoming MIAA Men's Soccer Tournament, based on their win against three seeded Calvin University. Hope drew with the Knights.

Trine outshot the opposition in the contest, by nearly double, at 12-7 overall and 5-2 on goal. The trend started early with the Thunder forcing a pair of defensive blocks in the opening 20 minutes of play. Senior Luke Kearns then put the first shot on goal of the match for either team going high on the goal.
Ben Borak had the second shot with a low and left effort. It ended up being the final on target shot of the half and the teams ended the half safely scoreless.

The two best scoring chances of the game came early in the second half, one for each team. The first went to the Flying Dutch in the 60th minute when they fired a shot from just inside the box that went off the crossbar and out of play.

The counterattack was even better for the Thunder. Aidan McGonagle initially sent the goal kick to midfield, before the two teams traded possession. Eventually Djimo Kouyate came up with a steal at just on the offensive side of the field, passing the ball quickly forward to Mohamed Aljably who in turn sent a beautiful pass up the near side of the field. Kouyate settled the ball at the corner of the penalty area and forced a diving effort from Hope's keeper on the far side of the net.

McGonagle preserved the draw 12 minutes later, with a jumping said on the far side of the goal and then later still with an easier low save to the near side. They were his only saves of the shutout, but the senior played well in net, directing the defense against five corner attempts by the Flying Dutch.

Overall, the thunder finish the regular season with a 7-6-2 record. They will face Indiana University on Friday, November 1 in an exhibition contest, before taking the field at home for the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament on Tuesday, November 5. The opponent and time for that contest will be determined on Saturday, November 2 during the opening round.
 
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