Seniors Bobby Tabeling, Cole Galyen and Chris Rust combined for two goals and three assists to help the Trinity Lutheran boys’ soccer team to a 3-1 win over Milan on senior night at Trinity on Monday.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead at 37:22 of the first half and stayed in front until A.J. Goecker scored off an assist by Tabeling to tie the match at 7:27 of the first half.
After the seniors were honored at halftime, the Cougars didn’t wait long to take the lead as Galyen put the ball in the net, off an assist by Rust, just 36 seconds into the second half.
Tabeling got into the scoring column off an assist by Rust at the 28:03 mark to complete the scoring.
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“They came out and got a good one against us to take a 1-0 lead,” coach Brandan Tabeling said. “We kind of fought back and got one.”
Tabeling said the Cougars did a good job of moving the ball.
“Practice-after-practice we’re working on passing to each other, keeping control of the ball, making the other team do more running around chasing us; rather than us running around chasing them,” he said.
“We did a much better job at keeping control of the ball, trying to pass to one person, and then move, rather than dribble through two or three defenders.”
Senior Luke Onken was in goal first half and made three saves, and Andrew Emily had five saves in the second half. The Cougars attempted 12 shots and the Indians tried 15.
“The second half we did quite a bit of changing up,” coach Tabeling said. “We brought our goalie, Luke Onken, out to play center mid. He does a good job of communicating, talking, passing and keeping everybody in shape.
“Another senior, Cole Galyen, usually plays center defense. We bumped him up to the center of the field because he doesn’t get nervous when people are running at him. He’s a strong individual, and he’s comfortable in the middle of the field having the ball.”
In addition to Bobby Tabeling, Rust, Galyen and Onken, other seniors Cole Allman and Isaiah Johnson were honored. The seniors and their parents were introduced at halftime.
“The seniors have been huge for us the past two years,” coach Tabeling said. “They’ve won back-to-back sectional titles, and every single one of them was an important part of that. Luke’s played goalie for us the past two years, Bobby’s played striker for us. Cole Galyen was a huge step in last year for defense with us.
“Cole Allman and Chris Rust are another two that started most games, and played every game the last two years with us. It’s the third class in a row that we’re graduating at least five players. These guys have really helped pull the new players in, get them in spots and comfortable with playing and helped them relax and enjoy playing soccer.”
The Cougars are 4-6-2 and will play host to the Cougar Cup on Saturday.