Trojans top Western Texas

Trojans top Western Texas

(TRINIDAD, Colo.) – Trinidad State improved to 9-3 on the season with a victory over Western Texas College out of Snyder, Texas. The Westerners came to Trinidad with a 5-2-1 record to face a Trojan team that has been on a roll recently. The game was fiercely contested by both teams on the soggy field at Los Niños on Sunday.

The Trojans got on the board first when Thiago Navarro fired it past the Westerer keeper in the eleventh minute. Western Texas evened the game up in the 19' minute when Travar McCulloch scored off an assist from Edgardo Espinal. TSJC took the lead back with three minutes remaining in the half when Christopher Badibengi drove the ball down the left side and fed Biska Biyombo in the box for a close-range blast. Western had a chance to tie right at the halftime buzzer on a penalty kick, but Shamar Jemison came up with a huge save to send the teams to halftime with TSJC up 2-1.

In the second half the Westerers would again tie the game. This time it was a successful penalty kick by Matt Roll in the 62' minute. TSJC would then get the game winner from Badibengi with just under 20' minutes to play as he fought his way through a swarm of defenders to knock a shot in from the top of the six-yard box. Jemison had a huge game in goal with nine crucial saves.

The Trojans will return to Region IX play as they face Western Nebraska on Friday at 3 p.m. and then at 1 p.m. on Saturday they will host Northeastern. Both games will be at Los Niños Park in Trinidad.