ST. LOUIS – The No. 5 Trinity University Men's Soccer team (18-1-1) punched its ticket to the NCAA Elite Eight with a commanding 3-0 Sweet 16 victory over No. 12 Wash U (14-4-1) on Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field, delivering another composed, clinical postseason performance.
The Tigers settled into the match quickly, absorbing early pressure before asserting control through midfield. After a pair of big saves from goalkeeper
Jayden Schell (Dallas, Texas / Plano) kept the Bears out in the opening half-hour, Trinity struck first in the 31st minute. Super-sub
Alex Ramirez (Houston, Texas / Humble), introduced just four minutes earlier, made an instant impact.
Luke Mayfield (Dallas, Texas / JJ Pearce) lofted a precise ball over the top to
Samuel Theiss (Boerne, Texas / Boerne), who brought it down smoothly, beat his defender on the right flank, and whipped a dangerous ball across the six-yard box. The goalkeeper could only parry it into the path of the lurking Ramirez, who calmly slotted home the opener with a first-time finish.
The second half belonged entirely to Trinity. From the opening whistle of the period, the Tigers suffocated the Bears with relentless possession, sharper passing, and a total stranglehold on territory. Wash U managed zero shots on target after halftime, and their only two attempts of the period came from distance, neither troubling the Trinity back line. The Tigers' midfield dictated every phase of play, while the defensive unit, led by Mayfield,
Daniel Urquidi (Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock), and
Luke Chandler (Glasgow, Scotland / Balfron), cut out every counter before it could develop.
The pressure paid off in the 65th minute. After pinning Wash U deep for several sustained phases, a loose clearance fell perfectly to the feet of the "Boerne Bandit," Theiss, at the top of the box. Meeting it on the half-volley, he smashed a driven strike into the bottom left-hand corner to double the Tigers' lead and score his 15th goal of the campaign. By that point, Trinity were in complete command, circulating the ball with confidence, winning every duel, and forcing the Bears to chase shadows.
Trinity's depth delivered the final blow in the 82nd minute. A loose ball fell to
Thomas Kay (Stanstead Mountfitchet, England / Bishop's Stortford) inside the penalty area, and he calmly squared it to the lively
Joey Perryman (Flower Mound, Texas / Flower Mound). Perryman unselfishly then slid an inch-perfect pass across the face of goal to
Jason Sukow (Jacksonville Beach, Fla. / Reagan), who tucked home his first goal of the season, and the Tigers' third to seal the victory and spark jubilant scenes along the Trinity touchline.
Schell recorded three saves before handing the final minutes to
Brandon Gongora (San Antonio, Texas / Madison) to complete the shutout. Trinity outshot Wash U 10-5 overall, with a 7-2 advantage in second-half shots, and finished with a 4-2 edge in corners, numbers that underscored the Tigers' total command after the break.
With a 3-0 statement win and another clean sheet, Trinity marches into the Elite Eight carrying momentum, confidence, and one of the nation's stingiest defensive records.
Up Next
The Tigers advance to the NCAA Elite Eight, where they will face off against the second-ranked Augsburg University Eagles tomorrow, Sunday November 23rd at 1:00 p.m.