San Antonio – Trinity's women's soccer team defeated Southwestern (Texas) University 4-2 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, which was also the first home game of the 2021 spring season for the Tigers.
The Rundown
The Tigers got on the board early in the game, converting a free kick for a score in the fifth minute of the game. Alana Wickham (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) drew a foul just outside the box to set up the goal, which was scored by Kaity Ward (Phoenix, Ariz. / Xavier College Preparatory).
That proved to be the only goal of the opening period to give Trinity a slim 1-0 lead at halftime. The Tigers outshot the Pirates 14-2 in the opening period, but only had the one score to show for it.
Southwestern tied things up early in the second half, scoring the equalizer in the 52nd minute of action.
The game remained tied until the 63rd minute when Ward put in her second goal of the game for the Tigers. Southwestern was attempting to clear the ball around the 18-yard box, but Madison Horner (Austin, Texas / Bowie) deflected the pass. Ward collected the loose ball and promptly put it just over the keeper's hand to make it a 2-1 Trinity lead.
Molly Sheridan (St. Louis, Mo. / Kirkwood) added an insurance goal in the 66th minute that put the Tigers up 3-1 at the time, and the goal turned out to be the eventual game-winner. Alex Walsh (Tulsa, Okla. / Booker T. Washington) fed the ball to Sheridan at the top of the box, and Sheridan fought off her defender, then turned and fired into the bottom left corner of the net.
Southwestern struck again with just under 18 minutes remaining to keep the game in reach at 3-2.
Bella Ferruzzi (McKinney, Texas / Boyd) connected with Sheridan for the final goal of the game, which came in the 88th minute to seal the win. Ferruzzi picked up a loose ball on the left side of the Tiger attack and dropped it off to her teammate just inside the box. Sheridan once again held off her defender to control the ball, turned and fired it in from the left corner of the box.
Numbers to Note
Ward scored her first two goals of the season in the game, as well as the 13th and 14th of her career. Last year, she finished with a career-best seven goals scored. Today was her second career game with two goals scored.
Sheridan also knocked in her first two goals of the year, marking her third career multi-goal game, and giving her 11 career goals. She also got her first game-winner of the season, which is the fourth of her career.
Walsh picked up her first assists of the season and the eighth of her career with the Tigers, while Ferruzzi had her first career assist in today's victory.
Lauren Bolish (San Antonio, Texas / Alamo Heights) started the game and had a clean first half in which she faced just two shots. Joey Finley (1-0) (Albuquerque, N.M. / Early College Academy) was in goal the entire second half to earn her first collegiate victory.
Coach Speak
"It was great to see the quality of goals we scored as we got the victory, but it's just hard to be content when we witness what this team is capable of everyday," said Head Coach Dylan Harrison. "We made mistakes that cost us while still creating some amazing chances. This team has so much potential, and I just hope the short season doesn't hinder our ascension towards being the best version of ourselves."
Up Next
Trinity will be back on the road next weekend, traveling to Kerrville, Texas, to take on Schreiner University in continued SCAC action. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
