COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 22nd-ranked Trinity men's soccer team had a late comeback bid fall just short in a 3-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference road loss against 19th-ranked Colorado College on Friday night.

The Tigers fell to 9-2-2 overall this season and 4-2-0 in conference play, while Colorado College improved to 10-3-1 overall and 5-1-0 in SCAC. Colorado College has now won each of the last two meetings between the two teams at its home field. Trinity holds a 22-4-3 record in the series since the 2009 season, though the last 10 matchups have the TU Tigers with a 5-3-2 record.

Colorado College got on the board in the 19th minute with a long-range shot from just outside the box. Trinity's defense initially held them out of the box after a throw-in deep in its own end, but Colorado College found space for a shot to take an early 1-0 lead.

In the 40th minute, Colorado College was again pushing forward just past midfield, but an errant pass left only Trinity players to pick up the loose ball. Unfortunately for the Tigers, a miscommunication was also involved, resulting in an own-goal on an attempted pass back to the keeper. That left Trinity trailing 2-0 at the half.

As the game approached the midway point of the second half, Trinity had extended possession in the Colorado College half of the field, but was not able to get a shot away before the defense finally gained control at the top of the box. The counterattack came quickly and Colorado College took a 3-0 lead.

Trinity finally broke through just minutes later, attacking down the right side. Michael Meese (Williamsburg, Va. / Jamestown) blasted a shot that was saved but not controlled in the 74th minute, and Adam Knutson (Dripping Springs, Texas / Dripping Springs) was there for the rebound goal to get the visitors on the board with less than 20 minutes to play.

With just under six minutes left in the game, Joseph Kuri (San Antonio, Texas / TMI Episcopal) took a pass from Will Powell (Bexley, England / Beth Grammar School) that led him toward the endline. Kuri cut back and split two defenders, then eluded another as his pass back to the top of the box was settled by Braden Shuey (Frisco, Texas / Wakeland), who found himself wide open. After an initial touch, he rifled his shot past the keeper and the lead was down to just 3-2.

Less than a minute later, the Tigers had another shot that went wide, but it was a no-call on contact in the penalty box that had the Trinity contingent most upset. Trinity won a corner with under three minutes left, but the ensuing header sailed over the bar. The Tigers continued to push for the equalizer and had one more chance in the final seconds, but Colorado College was able to save the shot and save the 3-2 win.

The TU Tigers held a slight 12-8 edge in overall shots in the game, though the second half differential (9-3) was much larger.

Trinity returns home for the final two games of the regular season next weekend, hosting the University of St. Thomas and Centenary College in a pair of SCAC games. It will also be Trinity University's Alumni Weekend.