Danbury, Conn. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams scored early in the first half and benefited from an own goal in the second half to defeat the state rival Western Connecticut State University Colonials, 2-0, in men's soccer action at the Westside Athletic Complex this evening.  Trinity, ranked No. 9 in New England, improves to 4-1-2 with its fourth consecutive victory, while the Colonials fall to 1-6-1 and extend their winless streak to seven games.

Trinity broke through the Western Connecticut defense early, scoring with just over 10 minutes gone from the clock.  Senior captain forward Dan Mayernick (Gladwyne, Pa.) brought the ball through the right side of the Colonial defense and took a long-range shot that deflected off a defender.  Bantam junior midfielder Anthony El-Hachem (Vernon, Conn.) was first to the ball and quickly fired a shot that bounce hard off the midsection of Western Connecticut goalkeeper, Jack Holub (Sherman, Conn.).  El-Hachem again outraced everyone to the ball and punched his shot into the net before Holub could recover.  Trinity maintained the one-goal lead throughout the first half of play and the score remained, 1-0, at intermission.

For the Colonials, their best scoring chance came midway through the second half when sophomore Muamer Ahmetovic (Vlasenica, Bosnia) received a pass on the left side of the box and curled a shot cross-cage.  Trinity senior captain goalkeeper Grant Schonberg (Mendham, N.J.). dove fully extended to his left and deflected the ball just enough to keep the ball inches outside the post.

Trinity scored a second-half insurance goal with a little help from the Western Connecticut defense.  After a Colonial foul, Trinity took a direct kick and lofted the ball into the middle of the box, where a Western Connecticut defender inadvertently headed the ball into the Colonial goal while trying to clear the ball out of bounds. 

Trinity held a 16-7 advantage in shots, but Western Conecticut managed a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.  Holub finished with 10 saves in a losing effort, while Schonberg finished with three saves for Trinity. 

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