BY COREY KEENAN

For The Washington Daily News

 

Trinity Christian’s soccer team coasted to a 7-0 start to the season, but their undefeated dream stalled Friday afternoon, as Terra Ceia won a 3-1 decision on the back of their goalkeeper, Austin Roscoe.

Roscoe turned away 13 shots from the Tigers (7-1), who had beaten Terra Ceia, 2-1, earlier in September, and pulled off two improbable saves in the second half.

With the Knights holding a 3-1 lead 13 minutes into the second half, Trinity looked to pull within one. Wesley Lane settled a cross from a teammate on the left side, Roscoe over pursued and Lane shot behind the keeper. Roscoe quickly changed direction, dove to his right and held the Tigers in place. It would not be long until he was tested again.

With two minutes remaining in the game, Lane again had an opportunity from in close. He shot to the right post, but again Roscoe displayed solid reactions as he dove to his left to stop the shot and end any chance at a comeback.

“He’s the backbone of our defense, he’s always talking out there,” said Knight’s coach Nate Burns. “He keeps us in every game; he’s always in the right place at the right time. He comes out fast on balls and that cuts down the number of fast breaks against us.”

Terra Ceia suffered a setback early in the game, as Trinity scored 15 minutes into the match. Lane put a perfect cross in the middle to Cole Gray who took a shot that hit Roscoe before Gray picked up his own rebound to go on top 1-0.

The Tigers conceded the lead with 16 minutes left in the half, as Kendal Bowen struck a ball from outside the box that looped over the head of Trinity goalkeeper Austin Walker, just under the crossbar. Bowen, who has scored 14 goals through seven games for the Knights, netted a second goal just four minutes later.

The Knights took a ball in transition and a through ball by Ben Hubers found the foot of Bowen. Bowen worked his way past two defenders and put his shot just out of the reach of Walker to put the Knights up 2-1.

From there, the Knights’ defense led the way and forced outside shots from the Tigers.

“We try not to give up any easy shots, so we pack the middle,” said Burns. “We look to force things to the outside and counter attack.”

“They made us play the way they wanted us to play,” said Ed Good, Trinity’s head coach. “They really controlled the game and we never got over that. You have to give credit to their boys and their coach; they were just better than us.”

With suffering their first loss of the season, Goode is certain his team will respond well.

“We’ll get back to it with practice on Monday and I’m sure they’ll be ready,” said Goode. “Today was all about application, not talent. I know we have enough talent, but we didn’t apply that today.”

Terra Ceia notched their last goal off a set piece in stoppage time in the first half. Bowen put a cross into the crowded box where Wesley Bucher swung and scored to put up the final score, 3-1.