Trojans Draw No. 19 Marian on the Road

INDIANAPOLIS – The Taylor University men's soccer team delivered a determined defensive performance Saturday afternoon, earning a hard-fought 0-0 draw against No. 19 Marian at ASV Field.

The Trojans (7-4-2, 1-2-2 CL) produced their first shutout against a Crossroads League foe, while collecting a point for the second time against a ranked opponent in league play.

Connor Shaw was excellent when called upon, making a critical save in the 79th minute to preserve the clean sheet. Shaw and the TU back line held steady, with the sophomore goalkeeper making a late play to punch out a dangerous cross in the final seconds.

Shaw recorded his fourth shutout of the season, anchoring a defense that limited Marian to just one shot on target despite the Knights' 17-10 advantage in total shots.

Marian (7-3-4, 2-1-2 CL) also held the slight 9-6 edge in corner tries, with TU getting three opportunities in each half.

Giulio Mapessa was particularly active on both ends, registering three shots including two dangerous headers that tested Marian goalkeeper Mateo Garcia-Galan in the second half.

The Trojans created quality chances throughout the match.

Brock Carpenter threatened twice in the first half, forcing a save from Garcia-Galan in the 18th minute and narrowly missing the target earlier in the period. Luka Gole added another quality opportunity in the 35th minute that required a save from the Marian keeper.

TU nearly grabbed the lead when Caden Harrison unleashed a shot that struck the crossbar in the 86th minute, just missing on what would have been a dramatic go-ahead strike.

The Trojans will continue their road swing through the Crossroads League with a pair of matches at Saint Francis (Weds.) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Sat.) next week.