Trinity Tri Hawks

In the end, #4 St. Paul Academy proved too much for the depleted Tri Hawks, and the season ended with a 3-0 loss to the Spartans in the Section 3A quarterfinals. Despite minimal minutes from injured captains Maria Kisch and Laura Mayer as well as starting right back Audrey Zuelke, Trinity played some of its finest team defense of the year in stifling a potent SPA attack. Very few good looks at goal were afforded, and the lone goal of the first half was an own one off an unlucky deflection.

Having absorbed SPA’s best punches and adjusted to the field and speed of play, the Tri Hawks moved out of their 4-2-3-1 and into a 3-5-2 and ultimately a 3-4-3 for the second half, and were able to both find possession in the middle third and mount several serious-looking attacks, but could not put the ball away. SPA picked up two goals off of counters, one to a streaking weak-side mid that the Tri Hawks couldn’t run down and one off an errant clearance that turned into a cross and finish.

Liz Olson, Bekah Bittner and Catherine Putzier drew the unenviable job of shutting down the Spartan’s top 3 offensive threats, and did. None of the three had a goal or an assist on the day. Samantha Robbins, Catherine Kiefer, Anne Marie Bittner, Clare Marie Patros and Audrey all played brilliantly in the back. Anna Frenz, Grace Borchardt, Laura Mayer and a few others worked tirelessly up top to pressure the SPA defense and create attack. And Sarah Reinhardt, Treva Bellomo, Bekah, Maria, Catherine, Liz and Monica Nicklaus were forced to cover endline to endline chasing down runs in their defensive zone and making finishing runs on the offensive end. Anna Mayer came up with a huge save in the first half and Maria Lotti came up with two more in the second half to keep their team in the game.

SPA won the game, but Trinity made them work hard to earn it. After the game, the seniors gathered together for a final, private moment together on the field before stepping off it for the last time and into the arms of their waiting teammates, the start of a new ritual. They may be leaving us behind now, but they will not be forgotten. Ohana.