Rhodes Men's Soccer loses SCAC opener to Trinity, 6-0
9/22/06...

The Rhodes men's soccer team traveled down to San Antonio, TX to open the 2006 SCAC season. The task of opening against the no. 1 team in the nation was certainly daunting, but the Rhodes Lynx were feeling up to the challenge as having nothing to lose. The Lynx had been in a season long offensive slump and were hoping to find some sort of offensive spark. The Lynx' started junior forward Douglas Atkinson who had provided a tremendous spark in the game against Delta State.

The Lynx started out trying to apply as much pressure as possible to the Trinity defense, hoping to create turnovers in the Tigers' defensive end. But in the 16th minute, Trinity forward Patrick Floeck was able to open the scoring by drawing out goalkeeper Alex Margolin and placing the ball just over his head. The Tigers quickly added another goal from a corner kick that midfielder Joe Houchins headed back into the back post for a 2-0 lead. The Lynx were still not letting up though, creating two solid breakaway chances that forwards Chase LaFont and Douglas Atkinson were unable to capitalize on.

Opening the second half down 3-0, the Lynx were hoping to put a quick goal on the board to try and get back into the game. But the Tigers made it 4-0 in the 48th minute as midfielder German Gomez put in a ball that was crossed just across the goal from Ben Grossman. It was not until the 90th minute, with the score 6-0, when it appeared the Lynx would snap the shutout as freshman forward Zac Berry had beaten goalkeeper Patrick Johnson but midfielder Kyle Altman came from out of nowhere to clear the ball off the goal line. Goalkeeper Alex Margolin played the first 75 minutes of the game, giving up five goals and making 8 saves before giving way to junior goalkeeper Alex Mathis, playing for the first time since 2005, who gave up one goal and made two saves in just over 15 minutes of work. The Lynx are back in action on Sunday at 11:00 am as they travel up I-35 to take on Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX.