The SMWC Soccer Team hosted the Trine University Thunder on Tuesday, Oct. 6, hoping to notch a win that would get them a little closer to a USCAA tournament bid. The match started well in terms of possession, with SMWC doubling the Thunder’s possession in the attacking third and creating a few good looks at goal. However, Trine was able to frustrate most attacks, both on long possessions and quick counterattacks, for most of the half. That ended when a 6-pass buildup found Britt Simmerman on the left side of the Trine box, where she slotted a perfect ball across on the ground to Jessica Black, who struck a well-controlled low shot to the corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead. That lead looked a little shaky at times in the second half, as Trine picked up their level of possession and played quite a few balls in behind the SMWC defense. The back four of Alex Amos, Cayla Yockey, Maureen Brown, and Abby Schmitt deserve great credit for keeping the edge as play got a little more ragged. April Baranowski was again superb, and the final whistle blew at last on another victory, with The Woods holding an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal.

The next opponent is NCAA Division II rival Oakland City University in Oakland City on October 15. It’s always  a great matchup, and the 4-5-1 SMWC Team will go in with hopes of continuing the run for a tournament bid.