SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – There was soccer magic in the air Monday night at Trinity University, as 2,800 fans witnessed a tightly played exhibition game between the Trinity Tigers men’s team, and the National Team of Haiti.
Haiti, training in the U.S. for two weeks, beat the Tigers with two second-half goals, turning around a scoreless opening period. It marked the first game for the Haitians since the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12.
Monday's game was organized by San Antonio Sports and Trinity. Prior to the game, San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley made a presentation of soccer balls to Haiti’s team coaches. The balls were donated by Classics Elite, and Academy Sports and Outdoors. Dr. Fernando Triana also made a significant donation, providing new Nike competition shoes to the team.
Haiti’s National Team is training in preparation for a game with Argentina on May 5. The team will next play FC Dallas on Friday, April 23, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio Sports set up a table, where donations were accepted to help defray travel costs of “Les Grenadiers,” also known as “Le Rouge et Bleu.”
Trinity’s nationally ranked women’s soccer team sold T-shirts, which said “I Love Haiti,” with a big heart drawn in the middle. Those proceeds will also go the Haitian team.
The Tiger men are led by 19th-year head coach Paul McGinlay, who is one of the most successful coaches in the nation. Coach McGinlay has a record of 318-57-22 (.829), and ranks No. 2 in winning percentage among active NCAA Division III coaches.
In 2003, the Tigers went 24-0-0 and captured the NCAA Division III national championship, becoming the first team in the state of Texas – in any NCAA division – to win a soccer championship.
Trinity has also been national runner-up, making 13 total appearances in the NCAA postseason tournament. The Tigers have captured 13 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
Source: HearMusicFirst/ TrinityTigers
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