ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's soccer team picked up their first win of the 2025 season, defeating visiting Defiance College by the score of 2-0. Ben Borak and Colin Clark each scored in the contest.
The Thunder dominated the early movements of the match securing three quality chances in the first 90 seconds of play. The first came from Britton Sala who forced a save to the bottom left of the net. Then a minute later, Sala took a free kick from just outside the penalty area and banked it hard off of the crossbar. Borak followed up immediately with a header that went just high. In the 16th minute Tyler Niemi also hit a shot off the crossbar.
As the period wore on the chances dwindled and the game entered the intermission still tied at zero.
Trine got on the board in the tenth minute of the second half. Clark started the play by carrying the ball to near the top of the penalty area before passing it back to Nikola Bastaic. The freshman then moved on a quick diagonal to the near corner before settling himself and firing a low but accurate cross to the far side of the net. Borak was waiting in perfect position to send it home, by way of the lower right side of the net.
Just under five minutes later the Thunder added to their lead. This time a Yellow Jacket defender started the chance when he mishit a pass back to the keeper, leaving the ball stranded in no man's land. Clark collected it and shot just by the diving keeper, before following up by leaping over the downed man himself. The ball sailed into the center of the wide open net to give the team the 2-0 lead.
That score would eventually go final, aided by some strong play in net by Brandon Walker. The junior keeper finished the contest with five saves to secure the shutout.
Trine improves to 1-5-1 following the victory. They will hit the road for their next match, heading to face Otterbein University on Saturday, September 20. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
