JACKSON, Tenn. — The resilience of the Trevecca Nazarene University women's soccer team was on full display in the waning moments of the second half on Wednesday evening in Jackson, Tennessee. The Trojans, coming off a heartbreaking loss on Saturday at home against Delta State, found themselves trailing with fewer than 20 minutes to play at Union University, but a pair of late tallies helped the Trojans salvage a point out of the trip.
Trevecca (6-4-2, 3-3-1 GSC) scored twice in the final 17:50 of the match at Union (3-3-4, 3-0-4 GSC) to escape with a 2-2 draw and grab their 10th point in the Gulf South Conference standings. The result also gave the Trojans a point against a Union side that remains unbeaten in GSC play.
With four matches remaining in the GSC schedule, the Trojans find themselves in the thick of the conference race, just four points out of second place in the table.
THE SERIES
The tie was the second straight between the Trojans and the Bulldogs in a series that dates back to the 2005 season. Trevecca has taken points in three of the last four matchups between the two teams, dating back to a 5-2 win at Union in August of 2018.
THE MATCH
Union controlled play early on, and in the 24th minute, the Bulldogs broke the seal. Union's Irene Arias found herself with the ball at the top of the 18-yard area in front of the Trojans' goal, and she put a shot in over TNU goalkeeper Penelope Charroin that gave Union the 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs recorded nine of the 12 shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes, but at intermission, Charroin and the Trojans remained just one goal down. Charroin helped keep Trevecca within striking distance throughout the night, finishing with a season-high nine saves. Her previous season best was eight in the Trojans' historic 1-0 victory over No. 9 Lee.
Union added to its lead with a goal from Rebekah Jackson early in the second half, putting the Bulldogs in front 2-0.
As the clock wound down, Trevecca continued searching for an opening.
In the 73rd minute, Katie Fuller took a pass from Dani Witsman and lofted a shot into the top left corner of the goal to get the Trojans on the board and cut the deficit to 2-1.
The finish was Fuller's first collegiate goal, while the assist gave Witsman the first point of her Trevecca career.
The Trojans continued to push forward in search of the equalizer, and in the 88th minute, a yellow card gave Trevecca a free kick from a dangerous position along the right-wing touchline. Hailey Wilkinson stepped over the right-footed free kick and sent the service into the area, where it deflected in with the goal originally credited to Anna Farrell, but later changed correctly to an own goal, to level the match at 2-2.
Neither team was able to generate a quality chance over the final two minutes, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
It marked the second time this season Trevecca has erased a 2-0 deficit to earn a draw. The Trojans also came from two goals down in the season opener against Lincoln Memorial, rallying for a 2-2 draw on the Hill.
GOALKEEPERS:
Trevecca - Penelope Charroin (T, 4-3-1) - 90 Minutes Played, 2 GA, 9 SV
Union - Antia Lopez Rodriguez (T, 3-3-4) - 90 Minutes Played, 2 GA, 4 SV
SCORING:
23:23 - UU: Irene Arias (4, Unassisted)
48:45 - UU: Rebekah Jackson (9, Irene Arias, Paige Blackburn)
72:10 - TNU: Katie Fuller (1, Dani Witsman)
87:33 - TNU: Own Goal
UP NEXT
Trevecca will return home for a pair of crucial home matches over its next two and will play three of its final four matches in Nashville.
The Trojans welcome Valdosta State University (4-3-3, 3-2-2 GSC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday before hosting Spring Hill College (4-3-4, 3-1-3 GSC).
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