Category: SOCCER

Trinity Volleyball is Focused on Consistent Improvement

Trinity Volleyball continued their season-opening stretch of road games taking on Penn State Hazleton on Thursday night.  While both teams were filled with first-year student-athletes,  the home team had an advantage with the crowd on their side. The Tigers improved from their first contest but were unable to secure the win. “The team played so much better,” Head Coach Lakia Meriwether said. “The goal is keep improving every day and every game.”

The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow as they travel to St. Mary’s College of Maryland for a tri-match, game times are 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

Trinity Soccer Continues Hot Start with 4-2 Road Win over Hollins

Trinity soccer continued their hot start to the season with a 4-2 road win over Hollins on Friday afternoon. 

“Tough overall for us today, losing our freshman striker Lauryn Mays four minutes into the game with a season ending injury. We are all wishing Lauryn a speedy recovery,” Head Coach Alex Ughiovhe said. “I’m proud of how the ladies rallied together to fight through the emotional toughness of losing a teammate. Two wins in a row is great way to start the season but we have a long way to go.”

 Hollins controlled most of the action to start the game. Around the 22 minute mark Brittney Smith put a halt to that, scoring the first of her three goals for the game. Hollins fought back and started to gain momentum as time winded down in the first half. With five minutes left in the half, the Tigers scored a pair of goals (Madeline Kopka, Brittney Smith ) to take a 3-0 lead into the break. 

Hollins came out with intention in the second half scoring two goals within the first four minutes. The score was 3-2 for the majority of the second half. Brittney Smith sealed the deal for the Tigers with her third goal of the day, resulting in a 4-2 final score. 

The Trinity soccer team will be back in action on Wednesday, September 14th as they host local opponent Gallaudet at 4:30 PM.

Victory is Sweet!

Trinity President, Pat McGuire, enthusiastically tweeted as the Tigers took on Sweet Briar in their home opener yesterday. The Tigers were in attack mode on the offensive end taking several shots throughout the first half. Brittney Smith, scored with 30 minutes left in the half, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Sweet Briar quickly responded with a goal of their own tying the game 1-1.

First-year student-athlete Madeline Kopka scored an unassisted goal minutes later to send Trinity into the break with a 2-1 lead. The Tigers gathered themselves at halftime and came out with the same energy in the second half. Minutes into the second half junior Karol Barahona-Bonilla scored an unassisted goal to give Trinity a 3-1 lead. Trinity’s defense held off the Vixens for the rest of the half.

Head coach Alex Ughiovhe shared his thoughts after the game, “Today was a great team victory and I’m very proud of the girls. It was a hard-fought game but we should have capitalized on the chances we created in the first half. We’ll enjoy this victory and the weekend, then we’ll get back to work on Monday.”

The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, September 7th as they take on Notre Dame of Maryland at 4:00 PM.

Trinity Soccer Welcomes Six New Faces!

WASHINGTON DC—Trinity Washington University’s Soccer team, led by head coach, Jason Gross, will be welcoming six incoming freshmen to their program for the 2020-2021 season: Melanie Alvarado, Karol Barahona-Bonilla, Heather Kierzek, Alejandra Lainez-Rodriguez, Marbella Navarrete, and Kaylyn Whiteheart. In addition to the six newcomers, the Tigers will welcome back 11 returners.

Coming off of a record setting season, with an 11% increase in win percentage, Gross and his roster of seventeen are looking forward to getting back on the field. Junior goalie Emily Andino finished the 2019-2020 season ranked # 7 in Division III for saves per game (153). Sophomore striker, Brittany Smith ranked #2 on TWU’s 2019-2020 team in most goals made in a season. While Trinity joins hundreds of NCAA Division III schools in cancelling fall sports, the team goals remain the same.

“Our focus hasn’t changed, the way we have to prepare has. The pandemic has allowed us to incorporate additional layers to our teaching and learning framework,” Gross said. “Players have been committed and engaged, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Gross plans to capitalize on this fall semester in a variety ways. He shares with us some of his expectations.

“We have very specific individual player development goals that we expect each player to reach each year; on and off of the field,” Gross said. “With games cancelled for the fall, we will use that time to continue integrating our recruiting class into our program. Integration will include team culture, academic support, community involvement and game concepts.”

When asked how he plans to utilize the momentum from the past season, Gross responded:

 “I think we were in a really good position to improve our win percentage this fall, but we now have the opportunity to further strengthen our squad with the addition of another recruiting class before we have to take the field again. I’m expecting a breakout season for the program once we return to competition.”

Although there will be noticeable changes within the athletics department, Trinity Athletics will provide programming to enhance the overall college experience for all students on our campus. Please join us as we welcome our incoming scholar-athletes to the Tiger family!

 

Tigers drop match against Marymount

Arlington, Va- Trinity Washington University’s soccer team traveled to Marymount University on Saturday morning, October 26th, falling 7-0.

Marymount found the back of the goal very early, scoring the first goal within the sixth minute mark. This was the first of the early and often 4 goals scored by Marymount, going into the break with a score 0f 4-0.

The second half mirrored the first in that the Tigers were not able to match Marymount defensively, allowing 3 more goals to be scored. The Saints capped the game with a score of 7-0.

Sophomore, Emily Andino, played the entire 90 minutes and had 21 saves for the Tigers.

Trinity will travel to Mary Baldwin University on Wednesday, October 30th to round up their season. Start time is 11:30 AM.

Tigers fall to Gallaudet on Senior Night

Head Coach, Jason Gross and senior, Vanessa Ramirez

Washington, DC – The Trinity Washington University soccer team hosted Gallaudet University on Thursday, October 24th, a postponed game from October 22nd due to weather. The Tigers fell, 7-0. The game was also the last home game as well as senior night, where the Trinity Tigers honored their lone senior, Vanessa Ramirez.

In honor of it being Ramirez’s last home game of her career, while injured, she was allowed to kick off, before subbing out of the game.

Gallaudet went on the offensive early with one shot in the first 10 minutes of play, but it was saved by goalie, Emily Andino, her first save of seven in only the first half. Shots by Brittany Smith, Ana Guervara, and Maribel Ramirez were also saved. Both teams held each other at bay into halftime with score of 0-0.

Gallaudet pressured the Tigers in the second half and went on the attack early, scoring their first goal at the 46.40 mark. They were met with a shot by Smith that was saved and returned with three more goals by Gallaudet capping the game with a score of 0-4.

Sophomore, Emily Andino, played all 90 minutes for the Tigers, making 9 saves.

Trinity will travel to Marymount University on October 26, 2019 for their next game.

The Tigers Record First Win of the Season Against Central Penn.

On October 17th, the Tigers defeated Central Penn 5-1, and both teams supported to fight against breast cancer in their pink jerseys.

Here’s a look inside the numbers:

The Tigers started early, with freshman, Maribel Ramirez scoring the first goal within five minutes of the first half. Central Penn tried to respond right away, but nationally ranked goalie, Emily Andino, saved both attempts. Freshman striker, Brittany Smith then scored for the Tigers, increasing the lead to 2-0 over Central Penn. Mari Ramirez wasn’t too far behind with yet another goal scored, 3-0, but was quickly answered with a goal scored by Central Penn, 3-1, just before the half ended.

The second half on the pitch was a complete shutdown by the Tigers with them allowing no goals and Emily Andino having 4 saves. In the last 15 minutes Ramirez scored her 3rd goal, and Nikolay Mckennis also got a goal in, finishing off their Central Penn defeat with a score of 5-1.

We caught up with freshman, Maribel Ramirez, who finished the game with 3 goals, after the game. Here’s what she had to say:

Trinity Athletics What was your mindset coming into this game?

Maribel Ramirez I have to get to the ball! That was my mindset. I knew it was a winnable game, so I had to run and be first [to the ball].

TA How did getting your first win feel?

MR Honestly it felt GREAT! It’s an incredible sensation when you realize WE WON! The hard work pays off. I felt amazing.

TA What did you all do differently that may have put you all in a better position during the game?

MR We, as a team, came together as family on the field which put us in a better position when it came to communication and getting things done together. We came into the game, [saying] “this is a winnable game, we have to get it, it’s ours!”

TA What did you execute to score those 3 goals for your team?

MR Personally, in this game I was put as a winger, so I feel that that gave us an advantage, having some speed at the top of the field to lead the ball up and give the rest of the team time to close in to our opponent which led us to score and get our first W.

TA What should be the focus to win your next game?

MR We just need to come up with the same positive attitude and determination as we did with Central Penn!

The Tigers play their final home game against Gallaudet on October 24th, 2019 at 4:45 for senior night at the Trinity Soccer field.

Things are Looking Up in the Midst of Tigers Fall to The Christendom Crusaders

WASHINGTON, DC — Despite having more saves, the Tigers fell to the Christendom Crusaders on the cloudy evening of September 5th with a score of 7-1.

Here’s what happened: In the first three minutes of the first half, the Crusaders set the tone with freshman, Christine McLaughlin scoring her first goal of four.

The pace picked up on the pitch as they neared the end of the first quarter: Luring the Crusaders goalie out of her box, the Tigers got within striking distance, and freshman forward, Brittany Smith, scored her first goal of the season for the Tigers. The Crusaders quickly responded with another goal scored by McLaughlin within the next minute, breaking the short-lived tie between the two teams. This was followed by two more goals scored by the Crusaders. Goalie, Vanessa Ramirez, had five saves and was assisted by defenders Kylie Kemp, Andrea Golli, Abigail Castro Castillo, and Nikolay McKennis in holding the Crusaders to four goals in the first half.

The Tigers, while taking 5 shots, went scoreless in the second half. Goalie, Kiera Thomas, only allowed three goals in the second half, while she had four saves, closing the game out with a score of 7-1.

While the Tigers suffered a loss, they chose to focus on the positive. The ladies have already begun to rewrite history for Trinity Women’s soccer by scoring their first goal in two years.

“I’m excited! I had no idea that we were even on a streak of no goals,” freshman, forward, Smith humbly stated after receiving several “Good job, Brittany (s)!” from her fellow teammates after the game.

And with a long season ahead, Head Coach, Jason Gross, expects huge improvements from his very young team with over half of the women being freshmen. “This is the first year that we’ve had a recruiting class, so we came into this season with an understanding that we’re rebuilding. We understand that it’s going to be an uphill battle,” Coach Gross confidently states. Coach Gross looks to improve each player individually, many of whom have never played soccer in the collegiate circuit, with the goal of collectively becoming a better team.

With the Tigers taking on the Notre Dame of Maryland University on September 7, 2019, Coach Gross says that “offensively, we have to play to our strengths. When we play closer together, we are a better squad, so keeping possession is critical,” when asked what the key focus points are to secure a win.

Come out and support your Tigers as they take on Notre Dame of Maryland at the Trinity Soccer Field on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Can’t make it?  The Tigers will also have another home game on Monday, September 9, 2019 against Central Penn College.

Tiger Pride!

 

Trinity Soccer’s Senior Night

Trinity Soccer fell to Wilson College on Senior Night Monday, October 22, 2018. The final score was 0-3. The Tigers fought hard at their last home game with 4 inactive players due to injuries. Trinity forwards struggled with tough defense and were not able to get many shots off. However, goalie, Emily Andino had 9 saves for the game.

Wilson’s O’Donel score in the first half and Martin and Garcia both scored 1 goal in the second half.

Thank you to Wilson College and our officiating team for allowing injured senior, Jessica Alonso to start the game and be substituted out immediately upon play.

Thank you to our dedicated fans, staff, coaches and most importantly athletes for a season to build on here at Trinity Washington University.

 

Tiger lose 0-2 to Penn State Mont Alto

Pictured #5 Merelyn Giron

Trinity soccer faced Penn State Mont Alto last week losing a hard fought match 0-2. Trinity Defenders and Goalie only allow one goal per half with 6 shots on goal total. Goalie, Emily Andino had 3 saves for the match.

Tiger’s offense worked hard to keep the ball in scoring range. Jennifer Portillo, Doris Ayala, and Katherine Fuentes all had one shot on goal that were saved by Penn State goalie Angel Schoonover.

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