Hartford, Conn. – A late goal by first-year Cody Savonen (Orleans, Mass.) gave the Trinity College Bantams a 1-0 victory over the visiting Hamilton College Continentals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's soccer action this afternoon at Campus Field.  Trinity starts its year with a 1-0 record, while Hamilton drops to 1-1 on the young season. 

"I think we played well," said Trinity Head Coach Mike Pilger (10th Season).  "I can't think of a player who did not do well.  It is nice to have so many guys contribute.  For our first game, it was very positive."

Trinity controlled the ball on the offense end of the field for the majority of the first half, outshooting Hamilton 5-1 in the opening frame.  With no score on the clock, action picked up on both sides in the second half. 

Less than three minutes into the second stanza, senior Christian Carrasquillo (Manchester, Conn.) found himself in a breakaway situation, one-on-one with Hamilton senior goalkeeper Fred Porges (Short Hills, N.J.), who charged to cut the angle.  Porges disrupted the scoring opportunity in the keeper's box, but earned a yellow card in doing so, which resulted in a penalty kick for Carrasquillo.  On the kick, the senior placed the ball in the bottom right corner of the goal frame, but Porges came up with a critical save at the time, deflecting the ball off the post, and back into his arms. 

The teams traded shots over the course of the second half, as a sense of urgency picked up with each tick of the clock.  In the 73rd minute, Savonen netted a goal he won't soon forget, the first of his college career, and the eventual game-winner for the Bantams in Trinity's season opener. 

The Continentals didn't go down easy.  With eight minutes to play, first-year Peter Goldsmith (New York, N.Y.) ripped a shot from outside the box, which sailed high of the net, to the relief of the home crowd.  Hamilton gave Trinity another scare with just 12 seconds left.  After the Bantams were whistled for a foul, a Hamilton free kick was placed perfectly in the goalie box, where sophomore forward John McGuinnis (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) headed the ball just over the cross bar as the clock ticked down to zero. 

Trinity rookie goalkeeper Domenic Quade (Norwood, Mass.) stopped all eight shots he faced to earn a shutout in his collegiate debut.  Porges made a strong effort for the Continentals, finishing with 14 saves in the game.

Pilger added," It is extremely hard to score in this league, but controlled possession of the ball quite a bit and our defense was organized and tight when they had the ball."