Trinity Tri Hawks

The Tri Hawks tackled Robbinsdale Cooper for their third and final scrimmage of the year, a rematch of a tense 1-1 affair last year played on the Robbinsdale turf. This round went to the host Tri Hawks, and convincingly so. After a quick initial goal from Cooper, Trinity slowly turned the tide, despite limited minutes from Sam, Bekah and Laura.

A pair of “Big 5” goals to close out the first half left the home squad with a 3-1 lead, and they put in three more during the second half for a 6-1 rout. Grace tallied twice, and Liz, Maria Kisch, Anna Frenz and AnneMarie each added one for a balanced attack.

For the 8th straight year, the Varsity team opened the season with a trip north for the Superior Scrimmages. Departing Trinity at 9am on Friday morning, and after the mandatory stop at Tobie’s in Hinckley, the squad rolled in to Clyde Iron Works for lunch. The Tall Ships Festival precluded the usual trip to Grandma’s in Canal Park, but the new venue proved just as accommodating and interesting in its own right. The giant chess set and ambience of eating in a huge renovated iron factory that built hoists and cranes that helped build the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge, and more was pretty cool.

After lunch it was out to Park Point for beach soccer, Lake Superior chicken fights, and enjoying the view and the company. The team arrived at the cabin just in time to catch the last few minutes of the Olympic Women’s Soccer gold medal match, before enjoying a taco dinner, a chalk talk on the system of play, and a not-entirely-successful attempt at releasing chinese sky lanterns over the lake.

Saturday the girls were up bright and early to take on Duluth Denfeld. The sweeping view of Lake Superior and the St. Louis Bay from Lincoln Park Middle School did not distract the team from the task at hand, and they defeated Denfeld 2-0 in convincing form. Picnic lunch at Enger Park allowed the girls time to relax, recharge, and get to know each other before trekking back north for the afternoon tilt in Two Harbors.

Playing their least defensive and least familiar system, the team allowed two quick goals from Two Harbors before settling in and dominating most of the remaining 60 minutes of play. They clawed back two goals, but also allowed one more for a 2-3 loss. Many offensive chances were created, however, and only desperate scrambles by the Agates prevented 3-4 more goals from the Tri Hawks.
Recovery from two hard-fought games was promoted by a trip to Gooseberry Falls and more getting thoroughly soaked before an evening spaghetti feast. The seniors braved the elements for the traditional Senior Sleep-Out, a privilege only extended to those making their final trip.

Sunday morning found the captains preparing pancakes and bacon for the team, keeping the Captain’s Breakfast alive and well. The team worshipped together at Holy Spirit in Two Harbors, and Bekah Bittner and Catherine Putzier were even chosen to bring forward the gifts. After cleaning the cabin, it was time for the journey home…but not before ducking into the Portland Malt Shoppe for a sweet treat!

Many thanks to Tom and Shari Mayer, Jon Olson and Michelle Devereaux, and Nadine Reinhardt for playing cook, chauffeur and bottle washer for the weekend. Also to Phil and Kathy Seipp for the use of their cabin. The weekend could not happen without you!

Tryouts this year saw a record (at least over the past 9 years!) 34 players take the field, and multiple records fall.
Anna Frenz wrote her name in the record book twice, with a time of 3.04 seconds in the 20 yard dash and a triple jump of 34’ 11", the latter nearly two feet better than the previous best.

At the end of tryouts, freshmen Treva Bellomo, Grace Borchardt, Catherine Kiefer, Maria Lotti, and Monica Nicklaus were invited to join a 17 player Varsity roster, our biggest in many years. Mr. Mayer and Mrs. Willard welcomed a very talented and deep group to the Junior Varsity team.

Congratulations to everyone!

The Tri Hawks season came to an end in the quarterfinals of section play at the hands (and feet) of #1 seeded Holy Angels, ranked #4 in the state. Trinity had a plan, and held Holy Angels off the scoreboard for about the first 20 minutes of each half, but eventually a mark slipped and the Stars made them pay with 3 late goals in the first half and another two in the second for the 5-0 final score.

They may have lost the game, but their indomitable spirit drew praise from both the opposing coach and the center referee after the game. It was a year of growth for the young squad, who returns everyone next year. Look out, soccer world, we’re just getting started.

After surrendering the first goal in 5 of the last 6 games, the pre-game advice as Trinity opened Section play at Highland Park was to not dig a hole, to score first. The advice was not followed, and the Tri Hawks found themselves down 2-0 at halftime. But this team has no quit in them. In the second half Trinity switched to a 3-4-3 and worked the flanks and quite simply owned the field. After multiple cross bars and near misses, Anna Frenz broke up the middle and slipped the ball under the onrushing keeper and into the back of the net. 2-1.

Trinity kept the tremendous pressure up, and finally equalized when Catherine Putzier collided with the keeper and the ball ended up in the back of the net. 2-2.

In the first overtime Anna Frenz took the game on her shoulders and muscled her way down the right side (as only she can), fought off defenders and banked the ball in off the far post. 3-2.

From that point on the Tri Hawks dropped into their 4-2-3-1 and the Scots never got a sniff of the goal. In fact they never really threatened the entire second half, thanks largely to the stellar play of Audrey Zuelke, AnneMarie Bittner and Clare Marie Patros. That trio absolutely locked Highland Park down. And it was the visitors who came back and will advance to #1 seed Holy Angels on Thursday.

Player of the Game honors went to Catherine Putzier. Catherine played the full 100 minutes in a crowded and physical midfield, and did it with her customary flair and skill and grace. The Angry Bird went to Liz Olson, who was simply fearless. Overcoming a tough knock to the ankle, she toughed it out to create havoc in the final third. Liz was en fuego, and Catherine was as cool as the other side of the pillow.