NASHVILLE — The glass slipper fits.
In a storybook ending to the 2026 regular season, the Trevecca Nazarene University men's soccer team - picked eighth in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll - wrapped up the first ever conference championship in program history. The Trojans (12-1-2, 7-1-2 GSC) downed the University of West Alabama Tigers (6-6-4, 4-3-3 GSC) 2-1 at the Trevecca Soccer Pitch under the lights on Friday, officially wrapping up a share of the GSC crown, and thanks to their 3-0 win at Auburn Montgomery last Saturday, the Trojans have the top seed in the GSC Championship.
"I'm so glad I got to be a part of the greatest night in the history of Trevecca men's soccer," head coach Danny Leavy stated simply after the match. The win was a great exclamation point on his 18th season at the helm of the program.
THE SERIES
The win avenged a lopsided defeat at West Alabama a season ago - a 5-1 defeat for the Trojans - and it squared the all-time series at 1-1-1.
THE MATCH
The match took on a tentative tone early, as both teams knew they needed to focus on limiting the high-powered offenses. Treveca took four of the first five shots in the match, but it was Trevecca's
Hunter Walker who was forced to make the first save of the match. He turned aside a chance from the nation's leading scorer - David Nunez - in the 34th minute.
In the 26th minute,
Judah Jones got the ball along the right wing edge of the penalty area, and he ripped a shot that UWA goalkeeper Dan Eraz got a piece of - but he didn't get enough of it as it snuck through to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Chris Douglas doubled the Trojans' lead in the 52nd minute when he converted his 16th goal of the season on an assist from
Jack Franklin, as the Trojans took the 2-0 lead to step to the precipice of history.
UWA pushed forward to try and get back in the match, and in the 81st minute, the Tigers broke through. Aidan Riley converted a chance with an assist to Luke Jovanovich to pull the Tigers back within one. The goal snapped a shutout streak of 418:08 for Walker and the Trojans dating back to a penalty kick goal in the 33rd minute against Delta State on October 3. The last goal the Trojans had given up in the run of play was in the 60th minute at Freed-Hardeman on September 29th, and the last goal the Trojans surrendered in the run of play in the GSC came way back on September 23 against Lee.
In the final minutes of the game, UWA surged forward to try and equalize while the Trojans packed in the defense. The Tigers recorded the final five shots of the match, but it did not matter, as the Trojans kept the shots off frame, and Trevecca took the 2-1 win and the title.
GOALKEEPERS:
Trevecca -
Hunter Walker (W; 12-1-2) - 90 Minutes Played, 1 GA, 4 SV
UWA - Dan Eraz (L; 6-6-4) - 90 Minutes Played, 2 GA, 5 SV
SCORING:
25:40 - TNU:
Judah Jones (1, Unassisted)
51:17 - TNU:
Chris Douglas (16,
Jack Franklin)
80:22 - UWA: Aidan Riley (2, Luke Jovanovich)
UP NEXT
The Trojans will host the GSC Championship postseason matches as long as they stay alive. Trevecca will open the GSC postseason at home on Halloween night when they host the Choctaws of Mississippi Christian University (3-6-4). The Trojans defeated MC in Nashville on September 19, 6-2. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m.
