Box Score Schoenberg Breaks Trinity Record with Ninth Shutout of Season
Babson Park, Mass. – Freshman Timothy Shea (Somerset, Mass.) scored a game-winning goal in the 53rd minute to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 1-0 win over the Saint Joseph's College (Maine) Monks in opening round action of the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament at Hartwell-Rogers Field. Trinity (11-5-2) advances to the second round of the tournament for just the fourth time in program history. The Bantams ended a five-game winning streak for St. Joseph's, who finish their season with a 14-6 record. The Bantams will face Babson (16-2-3), ranked No. 11 in the nation, who is hosting the opening two rounds of the tournament.
(click here for photos from the game)
After a forgettable first half, the Bantams started the second period on a high note, getting an early goal from Shea. Senior co-captain Dan Mayernick (Gladwyne, Pa.) made a crisp pass to junior Anthony El-Hachem (Vernon, Conn.) on a through ball toward the middle of the field, before El-Hachem slid to tap the ball to Shea, who perfectly placed a shot past Monks sophomore goalkeeper Kenny Grade (Hampton, N.H.), inside the left post from 14 yards out to give the Bantams the score that had been alluding them all game.
It was a frustrating first half for the Bantams, who missed out on several scoring opportunities, including a series of shots in the 12th minute. El-Hachem ripped a shot, which was stopped by a diving Grade. Trinity senior Mike Galluzo (Meriden, Conn.) caught the rebound with the goalie out of net, but the Monks defense was there for backup, and deflected the ball away. Trinity sophomore Christian Carrasquillo (Manchester, Conn.) got a third shot off in the series, which sailed high and wide of the net, as the Monks escaped the early threat.
In 17th minute min., Shea found himself in a one-on-one opportunity with Grade, and sailed a shot high above the crossbar. Saint Joseph's leading scorer, sophomore Zach Johnson (Westbrook, Maine) responded by making a bid for his 18th goal of the season, when he came down the other end of the field and gave Trinity a scare with a hard shot that sliced wide left of the post.
Later in the first half, Shea got another shot off for Trinity, which Grade was there to stop again, deflecting the ball to the feet of Mayernick, who had an open right side of net, with two defenders covering the left side. Mayernick's shot went wide right of the post, as the Monks escaped another dangerous situation. Moments later, Monks sophomore Ross Suleski (Amesbury, Mass.) handled a perfect through-ball and managed to get a strong shot off, but the ball was right at Trinity senior co-captain Grant Schonberg (Mendham, N.J.). Sophomore defender Shaun McGann (West Hartford, Conn.) was able to loft a shot toward the top left corner of Saint Joseph's goal, but Grade was there again, and able to punch the shot away to end the first half.
Both teams had additional offensive opportunities in the second half, but other than Shea's score, the defenses on both teams did not allow either offense the clean looks that Trinity was getting in the opening frame. Grade finished the game with five saves, while Schonberg made two stops for his ninth shutout of the season, breaking a Trinity individual season record. Schonberg passes Tom Hambrick-Stowe, who recorded eight shutouts in the 1999 season.
Today's goal was Shea's third of the season, and his second game-winner of the year. His other goals came in a key late regular season 2-0 win over Wesleyan, ranked No. 9 and undefeated at the time, and in a 2-1 win over Connecticut College in the opening round of the NESCAC Championship Tournament.
The Monks had outscored their opponents 43-17 this season, and 15-3 in their last five games, heading into today's action. Babson heads into tomorrow's match with a 19-game unbeaten streak after losing their first two games of the season. Babson is 7-0-0 against Trinity all-time. The teams are meeting for the first time since 1982. Trinity has never advanced beyond the second round of the NCAA National Championship Tournament. The game beings at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Sun., Nov. 13. Visit athletics.trincoll.edu to watch the game live, or to follow live stats.
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