Hartford, Conn. – Senior Caitlin Irvine (Westwood, Mass.) scored three goals to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 16-1 win over the visiting Bridgewater State University Bears in the opening round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship Tournament tonight on Robin Sheppard Field.  Trinity, ranked No. 4 in the nation, improves to 17-1 on the season, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while the Bears end their season with a 12-8 record. 

The Bantams started scoring and didn't stop, while the Trinity defense allowed just four shots on the night.  Eleven different Bantams tallied scores, led by Irvine's three, while junior attacker Kaitlin Hildebrand (Berwyn, Pa.), sophomore Elizabeth Heimann (Wyncote, Penn.), and Kathleen Timmons (Branford, Conn.) notched two goals apiece for Trinity.

Hinman Sheppard Daniel Beckler limited the Bears to two shots on the evening, and forced 15 of Bridgewater's 22 turnovers.  Junior goalkeeper Olivia Whitney (Danvers, Mass.) split the game in net with first-year Bridget Kitchen (North Andover, Mass.), who played the second half after Trinity jumped to a 13-0 lead at the midway point.  Bridgewater junior Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) scored the lone Bears goal with 1:30 remaining on the clock, preventing a Trinity shutout, while sophomore goalkeeper Victoria Moore (Duxbury, Mass.) made six saves in the game for Bridgewater.

Trinity has made the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament for the third straight year.  The Bantams played Bridgewater State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010, winning by a tally of 19-3.  Trinity broke Bridgewater's five-game winning streak, improving their own streak to four straight wins. 

Trinity will face Buffalo State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sat., May 12 at a time and location to be determined.

Box score

Tournament Bracket