Trinity Tri Hawks

The Tri Hawks opened the season with a tough, 2-1 loss to new section rival St. Croix Lutheran. The Big 5 told the tale, with Trinity conceding the first goal just 2:30 into the game on a through ball up the middle and the second goal off a corner in literally the final second of the 1st half. After a rocky start, Trinity solidified and controlled play for stretches, but struggled to find quality chances. The Tri Hawks got on the board late in the second half when Ellie Maunu sprung Liz Olson for a great low, far post finish, but could draw no closer than 2-1.

Player of the Game honors went to Ellie Maunu, who played almost the entire game and made some great decisions on the ball, including a brilliant pass to assist the lone goal. Liz Olson took home the Angry Bird award for her ferocious and aggressive play in trying to bring the team back.

For those who missed it, the game was broadcast by local cable, and can still be viewed here: http://livestream.com/TownSquareTelevision/events/4300125

Perhaps the best tradition of Trinity Women’s soccer is the annual trip to the North Shore to play the Superior Scrimmages. The experience provides valuable bonding time for the players but it goes beyond simple bonding. It allows the returning players and captains to “set the tone” on what it means to play Trinity soccer, just as they themselves experienced when they were newcomers to the team. The team motto from a few years ago rings so true. It’s about “’teamship.”
Food is a big part of the tradition too, and on Friday the team secured their version of the treble: Tobie’s in the morning, Grandma’s for lunch, and for dinner a tremendous Mexican feast put on by the Mayers with tacos, tostadas and homemade pico de gallo. The day was filled with the stone throwing ritual, beach soccer, and more.
Saturday morning the team played Two Harbors to a 3-3 draw. The first period ended in a 0-0 draw, but Trinity struck first on a Bekah Bittner goal off a nice feed from Catherine Putzier. Toward the end of the second period the Trinity girls were playing hard but fatigue became a factor. Two Harbors fielded 24 on their varsity and were able to control play with fresh legs in the later stages, scoring twice to pull ahead. In the final period Two Harbors played their JV team and the Tri Hawks were able to pull ahead on a Two Harbors own goal off a Trinity cross and on a beautiful Maria Kisch header. Maria played an exceptionally spirited game coming off a respiratory illness.
That afternoon, the team headed off to a hearty picnic lunch at Gooseberry Falls to ice their legs in the frigid water and get some pictures. A good time was had by all, and even some of the adults got in the water!
In the second game Trinity had the wind in their faces as they faced the Duluth Denfeld varsity. During the first 20 minutes Duluth held a distinct advantage in possession, with the wind aiding their attempts, but by the end Trinity was able to apply pressure of their own before the period ended in a 0-0 tie. A great showing considering the girls had played about 90 minutes earlier in the day. The second period saw Trinity face the Denfeld JV, but with the wind at their backs. Sophie Clark opened the scoring with a breakaway on a pass in stride from Liz Olson. Later Liz broke in on her own and flicked a rebound back to Catherine who buried the ball for a 2-0 Trinity lead. With the exception of a bullet of a shot off the Tri Hawk crossbar, Denfeld was held in check and Trinity headed home with a well deserved 2-0 result.
That night the team headed back to the cabin for an Italian feast and ice cream. Of course no soccer sleepover is complete without a late night showing of, “She’s the Man.” Everyone stayed up late talking inside, as a fierce storm was dumping tons of rain outside.
The next morning they woke to Captains Breakfast made by Laura and Liz and headed off to church in Two Harbors. After this the team cleaned up the cabin and headed home, with a stop at the Portland Malte Shoppe!
A good time was had by all. It’s a great way to kick off the season and get to know your teammates. It’s something every Trinity soccer player looks forward too. Thank you to the Seipp family for opening their cabin to the team, and to the Mayers and Olsons for serving as chauffeur/chaperone/cook/coach for the weekend. It was a wonderful experience!

For the second time in three years, the Tri Hawks season came to an end at the ends of Minnehaha Academy, this time a hard-fought 2-0 loss under the lights on the turf at the University of Northwestern stadium. The Tri Hawks came out with a counter-attacking game plan, buoyed by the quick return from a weekend ankle injury to captain Mary Ennis. Minnehaha was stymied by the Trinity defense for most of the first half, including some sensational goaltending by Ayana Anderson, before finally finding a 25-yard, upper 90 strike to go up 1-0. The second half was more of the same; the Tri Hawks countering quickly and aggressively and getting some good chances, but not able to find the back of the net. Minnehaha did, scoring the second and final goal of the game off another long range goal.

Ayana Anderson had her finest game in goal, including a spectacular, diving save to her right. She has grown into the keeper role and is both depended on and trusted by her teammates. She played with the same ferocity as the rest of the team, never backing down and making Minnehaha really work for it. The Tri Hawks did not go quietly into that good night; they went fighting.

In the MCAA Tournament 3rd Place game the Tri Hawks experienced heartbreak for the second straight game, having more than enough chances to outscore their opponent but ending up on the short end of a one-goal loss, 1-0. It was only the second time all season Trinity had been shut out. Southwest Christian scored the lone goal in the first half when Bekah Bittner was knocked into the goal while in possession of the ball, but fairly so according to the referees. After that it was all Trinity, as they produced chance after chance, including several 1v0 breakaways, but simply could not put the ball on frame. The day was further marred by an ankle injury to Mary Ennis which took her off the field for most of the game, the first minutes on the sideline all season for the team’s “iron woman”.

Many players left their heart on the field, but it was Katie Henry who carried off Player of the Game honors. Katie had her finest day in a Trinity uniform: playing smart, savvy, physical soccer that locked down the right side of the Southwest attack while also jumpstarting a few counterattacks with timely and creative runs.

Less than two weeks removed from a Homecoming triumph over Maranatha, the two teams faced off in an MCAA Semifinal rematch back on the Trinity field, or “The Nest” as the players are fond of calling it. After two postponements, the game was played on a blustery Friday afternoon, and it was Maranatha who sprinted out to a 2-0 lead off of a pair of unlikely goals in which the wind and cold surely played a role. Mary Ennis would answer before half with a score off the new wrinkle in their highly effective short corner. Maranatha opened the second half with a quick goal in the “Big Five”, but Trinity would again draw within one on a Bekah Bittner goal. A late defensive miscue, when the Tri Hawks had dropped to two defenders to add extra attackers, would all but seal the game, despite more heroics from Bekah who found her second goal of the match with 2 minutes to play. The 4-3 final was against the run of play, and the entire referee crew praised the Tri Hawks for outplaying Maranatha. The Maranatha coaches also expressed relief to have come away with a win despite the tremendous pressure put on their goal for virtually the entire second half.

AnneMarie Bittner took home Player of the Game honors. Playing in an unfamiliar position against opponents as much as 4 years her senior, AnneMarie has been exceptional at the demanding center back position. Never more than in this game, when she and Laura stymied Maranatha alone for much of the second half.