Wayland High School graduate Tristen Ortiz scored the game-winning goal as the Trine University men’s soccer team got its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association win of the season with a 2-1 decision Saturday against Albion College.
All of the scoring in the game came during the first half. About two minutes past the midway point of the period, Albion evened the game at 1-1 with a goal of its own. But the Thunder answered quickly as Ortiz, a freshman, scored what turned out to be the game-winner, and his third goal of the season, just 14 seconds after the Britons’ game-tying marker to put Trine ahead, 2-1.
Both teams recorded scoring chances in the final minutes of the opening half, but all shots were stopped by each team’s respective goalkeepers, leaving the game at 2-1 in favor of the Thunder at halftime.
The second half saw Albion outshoot Trine, 8-4, with two of those shots being on net, including one with six seconds remaining in regulation that ended in a save by Trine’s Quinn O’Brien to seal the one-goal victory.
Trine, now 3-1-1 for the season overall, will travel to Olivet another MIAA matchup at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19.
