Trinity Men's Soccer Enters National Rankings After Undefeated Start
Hartford, Conn., Sept. 29, 2009 - The Trinity College men's soccer team, which is 4-0-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) after a 1-0 win in overtime at Bates on Saturday, has entered the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III National Poll as the No. 22 team. The Bantams, coached by Michael Pilger (5th Season), are off to their best start since 1968 when the Bantams finished 9-2 and reached the NCAA Tournament. Trinity, which is also ranked No. 3 in New England, plays at Western Connecticut tomorrow at 7 p.m. before returning home to face NESCAC rival Wesleyan, ranked No. 4 in New England, on Sat., Oct. 3 at noon.
The Bantams opened the season with a 1-0 win at Colby and won at Worcester State, 2-1, before two second-half goals by sophomore back Connor Reilly (Trumbull, Conn.) brought the Bantams back from a 2-0 deficit against Middlebury in a 2-2 tie in double overtime in Trinity's home opener. Trinity won, 1-0, against then-No. 13-ranked Eastern Connecticut last Wednesday, and tripped Bates, 1-0, on Saturday thanks to an overtime goal by sophomore forward Dan Mayernick (Gladwyne, Pa.). Mayernick scored that clincher on a pass by junior midfielder Peter Marlette (Buffalo, N.Y.), after Marlette had netted the gamewinner from Mayernick in the Eastern Connecticut game. Bantam sophomore goalie Grant Schonberg (Wayland, Mass.) had three saves at Bates to earn his second straight shutout. Reilly's two goals against Middlebury were the first of his collegiate career.
Trinity senior tri-captain Sam Wisner (Wayland, Mass.) leads the Bantams in scoring with two goals and one assist for five points despite missing almost three games with an injury, while senior tri-captain Chris Doran (Wayland, Mass.) is tied with Marlette and Mayernick for third in scoring behind Reilly with a goal and an assist for three points, and senior back Jason Kulik (Salem, Mass.) adds a team-high two assists. Schonberg has 25 saves (5.0 per game, 2nd in NESCAC) for an .893 save percentage (2nd in NESCAC, 21st in nation) and three goals allowed for a 0.57 GAA (T3rd in NESCAC) while playing all 476 of Trinity's minutes in goal. Kulik and sophomore Joe Buckley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) have each started every game in the Bantam backfield that has teamed with Schonberg for three shutouts in five contests.
