Palos Heights, IL — The Goshen College women’s soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to 22nd-ranked Trinity Christian College Tuesday afternoon, giving up all three scores late in the respective halves after playing the host Trolls tough for the majority of the contest.

Goshen (1-4, 0-0) fought off a total 13 Troll corner kicks and 13 shots on goal for a scoreless tie until just before halftime, when Trinity Christian finally collected a pass at the top of the 18-yard box and slipped a shot past sophomore goalkeeper Emmy Gibson at the game’s 40th minute-mark.

The late first-half score was the first for the host team thanks in large part to the play of Gibson, who manned the Leafs’ goal for the entirety of the game charting 10 saves on the day.

“Emmy probably had her best game of the season today,” said Goshen assistant coach Tera Franklin, who was acting as head coach on the day due to a scheduling conflict for regular program leader Thavisith Mounsithiraj. “She made many great saves and had to deal with Trinity Christian being in our defensive third of the field for much of the game. Overall, our defense did not back down.”

Along with Gibson, that group had to mark incredible speed all across the Trolls’ front line, as the stat sheet clearly indicated Trinity Christian’s dominance of possession. Gibson was flanked by senior Hannah Eash, sophomore Amy Clem and freshmen Liz Nafziger and Allison Yoder in the backfield, making for a tough out.

“Trinity Christian is a skilled team with great speed,” Franklin said. “While their speed gave us some problems, our defense did a great job of backing each other up. They did not back down tonight.”

The Leafs spent nearly the entire 90 minutes defending, as the team could not register an official shot on goal nor a corner kick on the afternoon. Goshen’s pride came in the fact that the squad nearly held Trinity Christian scoreless for both halves, as the Trolls second score came with just 17 minutes to play. A nice cross from the right side of the field found the Trolls’ Sarah Fassee waiting in front of the goal, who placed a shot into the upper corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Trinity Christian scored a moot third goal with just five minutes remaining, as a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box caromed off a Goshen defender’s outstretched foot, giving Gibson little chance at what otherwise would have been a probable save.

Field conditions on the day did not help the Leafs’ cause, as the team’s substitutes and coaching staff literally stood in water for the duration of the match on the sideline. A muddy, poorly conditioned field was an added advantage for the hosts, given Goshen’s immaculately cared for home facility.

“Even though getting anything going offensively tonight was tough, we are making improvements,” Franklin said. “Playing such a tough pre-conference schedule will prepare us for some very good conference opponents down the road. I feel good about the direction our team is headed, and if we can continue to consistently improve we will see results.”

Goshen was without starting midfielder Lucy Roth (junior) on Tuesday, who continues to nurse a sprained ankle. Her status is questionable for the Leafs’ next game. The team will travel to Calumet College on Saturday. Match time is set for 1 p.m. local time, 2 p.m. EST.