Two regular season SCAC champions, two undefeated SCAC campaigns, zero losses at home all season, an undefeated men’s team in all competitions, a perfect zero goals allowed at home by the women in SCAC competition and now, two SCAC tournament champions. Two unbelievable SCAC histories came to an end on Nov. 10 at SaberCats Stadium in Houston as the Trinity Tigers claimed two SCAC championship trophies in their final two games in the conference.
The championship games were both incredibly entertaining and completely different. In the early game on Sunday, the women’s team defeated Texas Lutheran University (TLU) with a golden goal in double overtime after a scoreless back-and-forth chess match. The women had defeated Southwestern in the semifinal by one to zero on Friday, Nov. 8 to clinch their spot in Sunday’s final. The women’s SCAC trophy has gotten used to life in San Antonio. It will return to the Bell Center for the ninth time in the last ten years. Only 6 times since the inaugural season have the Tigers not claimed the SCAC title, making this Trinity’s 28th and last-ever SCAC women’s soccer title.
For the men, recent SCAC history has been less pretty. Going into this season, Trinity were 22-time SCAC champions, but they were suffering a five year drought before this season after winning seven titles in a row from 2012 to 2018 and nine titles in a row from 2002 to 2010. Had the Tigers lost this championship, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow for McGinlay after so many years of dominance. Trinity didn’t lose however, they won their game on Sunday beating the University of St. Thomas 4-2 to bring the trophy back home. They, just like the women, defeated Southwestern on Friday, Nov. 8 by a score of one to zero to earn a championship appearance for the fourth straight time.
The women’s game was a microcosm of their season. It took a tough whole-team defensive effort to hold Southwestern scoreless for over 105 minutes. Against Texas Lutheran University, the Tigers had their work cut out for them. TLU was one of just three teams to play Trinity and escape without a loss when the two tied 0-0 on Sept. 6.
The game was cagey and defensive from the start. While Trinity controlled the first half with six shots to TLU’s two, both defenses proved impenetrable.
“So much of what we do already revolves around being tidy in the back,” head coach Dylan Harrison said. “We just ask them to stay focused, stay sharp, keep covering as we challenge [for a goal].”
Trinity very nearly lost the championship when TLU scored off a corner kick. Fortunately for senior goalkeeper Lauryn Lewis and the Tigers, the goal was ruled out for what appeared to be a leverage foul in the box.
“I think it was made evident that we were kind of meant to move on,” Lewis said. “In the moment, it was devastating … but the ref making that call made me realize that this was our game.”
Lewis was huge in the second half, as it was one of the only stretches all season where she was forced to make more saves than TLU.
“Part of [Trinity’s defensive effort] that was big for us was Lauryn Lewis,” Harrison said. “She didn’t have to make a ton of saves, but when she did have to, she made them.”
Regulation finished with just three shots on target from each team. NCAA rules say in overtime, two ten minute periods will be played and the first goal wins. The best chance in OT for TLU came with under four minutes left in the first OT period as TLU midfielder Alyssa Simien’s pass into the box took a deflection and fell at the feet of midfielder Emma Alverado with only Lewis to beat.
Lewis’ pressure and her presence in the net put Alverado off, her shot sailing off the left post. This chance proved to be TLU’s last of note, and the game entered a second OT. Penalties seemed imminent.
“I was having to get in the mindset of ‘This is gonna have to be my time,’” Lewis said. “I don’t have to make a lot of the big saves during the season because of our defense, but when the time comes, I am prepared to do what I have to do to win.”
It didn’t come to that though. With just over four minutes left in the second OT period, it happened. Sophomore forward Madisyn Barganski beat her defender on the sideline and cut inside, drawing an extra defender. This left senior Clara Richards with the opportunity to run along the edge of the box unmarked. Bargansky found her, and Richards drove a cross towards the back post.
Senior forward Michaela Bosco threw herself at the ball, making contact with her outstretched leg.
“Claire hit such a true strike, I just needed to get square with the ball and it would go in,” Bosco said.
The net bulged and the Trinity bench cleared and piled onto Bosco who had collapsed in the box, partially in joy and partially from the momentum of the stretch for the ball.
Trinity has not allowed a single goal in a SCAC tournament since 2016 and has won the tournament 14 out of its 16 occurrences.
Lewis’s three saves earned her 12th shutout of the season, tying her for the fourth most shutouts in a single season by a Trinity goalkeeper. With five straight championships, Trinity seniors have never experienced not winning the SCAC, including the tournament stars Bosco and Lewis.
“No championship has been greater or lesser,” Bosco said. “But I think the connections this year with the teammates especially, are just so strong. … There’s just a reason to play for something bigger than yourself this year.”
Trinity had reinforcements during Sunday’s action, as their whole-team defensive effort included a crucial 29-minute contribution from junior defender Ilsa Newland. Newland started the season as the key piece of the Trinity defense but had not played since September due to injury.
“We still got to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for each and every student,” Harrison said, “Not just as a player, but in terms of just overall matchup and everything. The game can be cruel at times, so it’s really just about putting together our best performance and having the right mindset as we go into these games.”
The Tigers earned an automatic playoff berth with the win. They likely would have made it anyway, but the championship win helps a lot because they were somehow unranked going into the tournament. The women will travel to Claremont to take on California Lutheran University at 3:30 CST on Nov. 15.
“It’s that time of year where we have to be our best, and we expect that we’re going to get their best,” Harrison said, “We don’t want to be tentative but we have to respect who we’re playing. We’re excited for the opportunity to play the defending national champion.”
If Trinity wins, they will stay in the LA area to face the winner of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and the University of California Santa Cruz on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CST.
