Trinity Wins Third Straight SCAC Women's Soccer Title

Trinity Wins Third Straight SCAC Women's Soccer Title

(Story courtesy of Trinity University website)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The top-seeded Trinity Tigers women won their third straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship with a 4-0 shutout over the No. 3 Centre Colonels on Sunday afternoon. Box Score

Trinity, led by eighth-year head coach Lance Key, also earned a slot in the NCAA Division III playoffs, which begin Friday, Nov. 11.
 
The Tigers (20-0-0), ranked third in the nation, won their sixth SCAC title under coach Key's leadership, and the 16th overall. It will also mark their seventh NCAA Tournament in eight years, and 17th overall. Official invitations will be issued Monday.
 
The six-team SCAC event was the first time since 1992 the conference used a tournament format to determine the champion.
 
Senior forward Kelly Watts opened the scoring in the 19th minute, with an assist from first-year midfielder Hannah Kuhl. Watts scored the game-winning goal for the second-straight day, as she fired in the first score in Saturday's 5-0 semifinal victory over Rhodes. She has scored three goals this season, with two of them game-winners.
 
It would be the only goal of the tightly played first half, with Trinity holding a 6-4 edge over Centre in total shots. Starting junior goalkeeper Katie Garrett (Joshua, Texas/Joshua) registered a save in the first half of play, and has 14 saves this season.
 
The second half was a different story, with the Tigers outshooting the Colonels 13-2. Trinity led the game 19-6 in total shots, and 10-2 in shots on the mark.
 
First-year midfielder Emily Jorgens scored in the 55th minute, registering her 13th goal of the campaign. Jorgens was assisted by first-year forward Stephanie Segovia and senior All-America forward Abby Loar.
 
Segovia produced her seventh assist of the season, and, along with  23 goals, leads the Tigers with 53 points.
 
Loar chalked up her 18th goal of the year, in the 56th minute, on an assist from junior midfielder Lauren Henderson. This season, Loar has accounted for 18 goals and 11 assists, for 47 points. She is Trinity's all-time scoring and points leader, having amassed 55 goals, 34 assists, and 144 total points.
 
The final touch of the game was a solo shot by sophomore forward Shelby Guenthardt in the 89th minute of play. Guenthardt scored her 10th goal, and the Tigers recorded their 17th shutout of the year.
 
First-year goalkepper Devan Osegueda played the second half and made a save, her 10th of the season.
 
Last season, Trinity advanced to the NCAA playoffs and shut out Puget Sound 2-0 in the opening round at Abilene, Texas. Eventual NCAA champion Hardin-Simmons edged the Tigers 2-1 in the second round.
 
Trinity and San Antonio Sports will co-host, for the third straight year, the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championship semifinals and finals Dec. 2-3 at Blossom Soccer Stadium.

After the game, Director of Communications Russell Kramer caught up with both head coaches along with Trinity seniors Kelly Watts and Abby Loar.

To listen to Centre head coach Jay Hoffman, click here.

To listen to Trinity head coach Lance Key, click here.

To listen to senior forward Kelly Watts of Trinity, click here.

To listen to senior forward Abby Loar of Trinity, click here.

Happy Holidays from the SCAC!
December 25, 2011 Happy Holidays from the SCAC!