SAN ANTONIO - The Trinity University women's soccer team opened their 2025 campaign in dominant fashion. They quickly dismantled Texas A&M–San Antonio with a commanding 6–0 victory on their home field, barely giving them a chance to breathe in the San Antonio heat.
 
With crisp passing, impressive endurance, and a relentless attack, the Tigers not only set the tone for the season but also extended their remarkable unbeaten streak at Paul McGinlay Field to 15 straight home matches, including an undefeated 2024 season at home. The Tigers have not lost a home contest since 2023, a testament to both their consistency and the formidable home-field advantage they've built on one of Division III's most respected pitches.
 
The Rundown 
 
Under the boiling South Texas heat, the Tigers controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, dictating possession and pinning the Jaguars in their defensive half throughout the entire match. While the early minutes showed some rust in front of goal, the breakthrough came in the 28th minute when senior captain and center back Ilsa Newland (St. Louis, MO / Kirkwood) pounced on a loose ball in the box, firing a composed finish into the bottom corner. The strike not only energized the team but also marked Newland's first collegiate goal, a milestone moment for the Tigers' defensive leader. The floodgates opened quickly. Just two minutes later, midfielder Clara Richards (Buffalo, NY / Williamsville South) unleashed a powerful shot from distance, curling it into the top corner after a clever layoff from fellow midfielder and captain Malea Cesar (Portland, OR / Sunset). The quick double gave Trinity a 2–0 cushion heading into halftime and a wave of momentum they would only build on.

Coming out of the break, last year's leading scorer and center forward Madi Barganski (Corpus Christi, TX / Flour Bluff) wasted no time extending the lead, burying a well-placed shot in the 46th minute to push the score to 3–0. Barganski recorded a total of 9 goals last season and was quick to reawaken her abilities. Hardly a minute later, senior captain and attacking midfielder Bri Werner (Woodbine, MD / Glenelg) finished off a perfectly timed through ball from Alex Doran (Boerne, TX / Geneva School of Boerne), adding her name to the scoresheet and leaving the Jaguars reeling and exhausted. However, Barganski wasn't finished. In the 60th minute, she capitalized on a deflected cross from Werner, pounding home her second goal of the night and reinforcing her reputation as the Tigers' most dangerous finisher. The final dagger came courtesy of defender Maggie Harnett (San Antonio, TX / Alamo Heights), who rose to the occasion in front of her hometown crowd. Assisted by midfielder Nina Pollak (Bethesda, MD / Bethesda-Chevy Chas), Harnett slotted home her first career goal to complete the 6–0 rout. From back to front, the Tigers' performance was a showcase of fitness and depth, with contributions from a variety of players. The shutout also underlined the strength of Trinity's defensive core, which gave Texas A&M–San Antonio little room to operate, with them rarely ever making it out of their defensive third unless the Tigers allowed them to do so.

Up Next

The Tigers return to Paul McGinlay Field this Sunday for a matchup against Pacific Lutheran at 11:30 AM. The teams last met in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, when Trinity secured a 1-0 victory. Following that, the Tigers will hit the road for a challenging back-to-back weekend in Dallas, facing off against the University of Dallas before taking on nationally ranked No. 12 MIT.
If the home opener was any indication, this Trinity squad looks poised for another season of high-caliber play, fierce competition, and perhaps, an even deeper run into the national tournament.