Men's Soccer

November 24, 2007

Trinity Falls Just Short in Championship Game

Lake Buena Vista, Florida - The Tiger men's soccer team fell just short of winning its second championship in a 4-3 shootout loss to Middlebury College.

Trinity (23-1) and Middlebury played to a scoreless tie through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.  The Tigers out-shot Middlebury 23-12, but couldn't find the net.

Joseph DeCosta narrowly missed a game-winning shot as time ran down in regulation.  His shot went off the fingertips of Middlebury goalkeeper Brian Bush, who was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player.  Bush and the Middlebury defense did not allow a goal for the entire postseason.

Robert C'deBaca also just missed a game-winner as his header three minutes into overtime was saved by a Middlebury defender. 

In the shootout, both teams made their first attempts, but Trinity missed on the second - hitting the right post.  Middlebury converted its second and took a 2-1 advantage.  After the Tigers tied it 2-2, goalkeeper David Steinberg kept it tied with a save on Middlebury's next PK try.  The shootout was tied 3-3 after the fourth round of shots, but then Trinity hit the cross bar on the fifth shot.

That miss set up Brandon Jackson's game-winning shot for Middlebury, giving his team its first national championship.

"I felt that we played good enough soccer to create enough chances to win in the first half, and again in the second half and overtime," Trinity Head Coach Paul McGinlay explained. "When it comes to penalty kicks, there's no more coaching."

"Over 400 teams started the year," McGinlay continued, "and on November 24 there were two left. We came as close as you can possible come to having the perfect season."

Trinity placed three players on the All-Tournament Team, including C'deBaca, Patrick Floeck, and German Gomez.