CROWN POINT, Ind. – The RedHawks men's soccer team faced off against the Trinity Christian College trolls on Tuesday night at the Sparta Dome in Crown Point. Despite a spirited effort from the squad, the RedHawks ultimately fell to the Trolls, losing 3-1 in a hard-fought match.
The game started on a challenging note for IU Northwest, as they quickly fell behind by two goals in the first half. The Trolls capitalized on defensive lapses, scoring their first goal in the opening minutes and adding a second just before halftime. A late goal by Trinity Christian solidified their lead at 2-0 going into the break.
With renewed determination, the RedHawks came out strong after halftime. Just three minutes into the half, sophomore
Tre Adams found the back of the net in the 48
th minute, courtesy of an assist from
Alan Nunez. This goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and momentarily reignited hopes for a comeback among the RedHawk faithful in attendance.
However, Trinity Christian responded quickly, reestablishing their two-goal cushion with an insurance goal later in the half. Despite several attempts, the RedHawks were unable to capitalize on any additional scoring opportunities, ultimately falling 3-1. Throughout the match, IU Northwest struggled to create quality chances, managing only six total shots compared to the Trolls' 15. RedHawk goalkeeper
Gavin Niebel recorded five saves in the first half, showcasing his skills before being relieved by
Devun Collins for the second half.
Cesar Lopez and
Dom Bixeman each contributed two shots for the RedHawks, but the team's offense was impeded by the Trolls' defense. Adams' goal marked his third of the season, tying him for the team lead with Lopez. This matchup against Trinity Christian marked the second in conference play for the RedHawks, leaving them with a record of 0-1-1 in the CCAC.
Looking ahead, IU Northwest (0-9-1) will aim to bounce back this Saturday as they travel to Bourbonnais, Illinois, to take on the Olivet Nazarene Tigers. The match is set for a 4:30 p.m. CDT kickoff.