ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Trine University men's soccer team opened the season with a tough loss to their hosts from the University of Mount Union. The Raiders came away with the final tally of 3-1.
Despite the final score it was the Thunder who struck first in the contest. In the opening minutes of the contest Zane Sarka drew a foul just outside of the penalty area, giving the team a strong free kick opportunity. Britton Sala took the attempt and placed the ball at the far corner of the goal area where a Raider defender attempted a clear. He misplayed the ball off the bounce and sent it just a few yards away from the goal. Gavin Hardy was waiting to settle the ball and fire the shot into the far side of the net.
Trine kept up the attach after the ensuing kickoff with Sala firing a shot of his own that sailed wide. The team followed up with a pair of free kicks in the next few minutes before Tyler Niemi and Jarick Aguilar both forced saves by the Mount Union keeper.
As the game clock reached double digits, the tide started to shift back toward neutral, with the home side finding some purchase and forcing saves from Dillon Lambert, who played in net for the Thunder. In the 24th minute they cashed in on the change, knotting the game at one. 15 more minutes of gameplay and the Raiders took the lead with their second of the night.
Out of the intermission the game's physicality began to ramp up. Both teams committed multiple fouls over the open ten minutes of the half culminating in yellow cards for the Thunder. Mount Union followed up with their third goal of contest, building the score to 3-1 which eventually would go final.
Lambert made five saves in the match despite recording the loss.
The Thunder will return to the pitch on Sunday, August 31 when they face College of Wooster. That match is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
