Top-Seeded GSU, No. 3 TCC To Meet For Men's Soccer Tournament Title
CHICAGO --- A pair of one-goal victories by top-seeded Governors State University and No. 3 Trinity Christian College on Monday have advanced the pair to the championship match of the 2024 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. The title contest will take place on Thursday at 1 pm at the Crown Point Sportsplex in Crown Point, Ind.
Governors State (14-2-4) got past No. 5 Olivet Nazarene University 2-1 to extend its unbeaten streak to 14 matches (12-0-2), while Trinity Christian (15-5) shut out No. 7 Holy Cross College 1-0 for its third straight victory. Thursday's contest will be a rematch of the Oct. 11 meeting when Governors State scored a 2-0 victory over the Trolls.
The winner of the contest advances to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, which will take place Nov. 21-23 at one of various sites.
Recapping Monday:
Governors State 2, Olivet Nazarene 1
Marcal Salom Chandre stopped an impressive 10 shots on goal to send the Jaguars to their first-ever title game. After a scoreless first half, Governors State built a 2-0 lead on goals by John Gonzales in the 59th minute and Horace Spence at 72:42. Three-time defending tournament champion Olivet Nazarene tried to rally late, but could only come up with one goal in the 81st minute.
Trinity Christian 1, Holy Cross 0
David Hernandez continued his goal-scoring onslaught with the game-winner at 72:06 to send the Trolls to their first appearance in the CCAC title game since 1996. The sophomore forward has now accounted for all three TCC goals in the postseason, including the two game-winning tallies. Giorgos Christodoulou registered his fifth shutout of the season by stopping three shots on goal.
The complete tournament schedule and results follow:
Thursday, November 7 - First Round
• Match #1: No. 1 Governors State 2, No. 8 Indiana Northwest 0
• Match #2: No. 5 Olivet Nazarene 1, No. 4 Viterbo 0
• Match #3: No. 7 Holy Cross 1, No. 2 Judson 0
• Match #4: No. 3 Trinity Christian 2, No. 6 Saint Xavier 1 --- OT
Monday, November 11 - Semifinal Round
• Match #5: No. 1 Governors State 2, No. 5 Olivet Nazarene 1
• Match #6: Trinity Christian 1, No. 7 Holy Cross 0
Thursday, November 14 – Championship
• Match #7: No. 3 Trinity Christian (15-5) at No. 1 Governors State (14-2-4) --- 1 pm