Trojans Stymie the Saints in Season Opener
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor University’s men’s soccer squad ignited the 2021 season in style, beating the St. Francis Fighting Saints 4-0 while Andrew Siegelin and Luke Holwerda stoked the fire with career-games.
It took a while for each team to settle in with the Fighting Saints controlling the ball for much of the first half. With roughly 15 minutes remaining before intermission, however, the left foot of Luke Holwerda changed the feel of the game, a feeling that lasted to the final whistle. The senior forward shook a Saints’ defender, then, struck a goal past the outstretched arms of the Saints’ goalie. Seven short minutes later, Andrew Siegelin scratched his way into the boxscore.
Siegelin, an Upland native and junior midfielder for the Trojans, reaped the reward of a beautiful assist from senior James McBride. Yet, while the pass looked pretty the goal looked luscious, as it was headed-in by Siegelin and his long locks. Siegelin’s goal sent the Trojans to half up 2-0, but he was only getting started with his night’s effort.
Not quite three minutes into the second half, Siegelin struck again, this time benefiting from senior Quinn Partain’s assist. Partain placed the ball after a Saints’ foul and dished a lefty-lob into the box, a lob which Siegelin swiftly served to the back of the net. Now up 3-0, the Trojans were not done yet; and, neither was Siegelin.
With minutes left to play in the match, Siegelin navigated the Saints’ defense with craft before giving Holwarda a shot to match him in goals; and, Holwarda did not miss it, striking his second goal of the game while following through on Siegelin’s first assist.
Siegelin finished the game with a career-high five points, while both Siegelin and Holwarda achieved their first career multi-goal games. The Trojans four-goal effort was their first since 2017, when they defeated Trinity Christian 4-0 in an early season match-up.
While the Trojans controlled the ball for the majority of the match, the Saints sent off 11 shots, three of which were made by freshman forward Sergio Fernandez-Arango. The Saints’ shots were no match for Taylor goalie, Jacob Susud, however, who recorded six saves in the Trojans’ first victory of the season.
TU (1-0-0) will return to action on Friday, August 27th, inside Turner Stadium against Madonna (0-0-0) at 5:00 pm.