Women’s Soccer Advances to the National Championship

Trinity Christian College will compete for its third national championship on Friday, December 6th. The Trolls will face off in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Women’s Soccer National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Trolls are two-time NCCAA national champions, having previously won the title in 2005 and 2018. Both championships were achieved under the leadership of women’s soccer head coach Joshua Lenarz, who will be transitioning to a new on-campus role after this season, concluding his 23-year tenure.

In the NCCAA Final, Trinity will play against Judson University. This is Trinity’s third matchup this season against fellow Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) rivals. The two teams played to draws in both earlier meetings this fall.

Lenarz has a career record of 341-132-46 over 23 seasons at Trinity and has been named NCCAA Coach of the Year three times. His teams have secured six CCAC regular-season or tournament championships.

As a department, Trinity Christian College Athletics has celebrated four NCCAA national championships: two in women’s soccer and two in women’s volleyball (2014, 2016). Additionally, Trinity’s men’s volleyball program won the 2023 NCCAA National Invitational tournament.

The national championship final is scheduled for Friday, December 6, starting at 5:00 p.m. CDT. The NCCAA will provide a live stream of the championship match at NCCAANetwork.com, and live statistics can be found at TheNCCAA.org.

On campus, Trinity students, faculty, and staff are invited to a watch party located in the BBC, starting at 5:00 p.m.

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Update 12/06/24:

Trinity Women’s Soccer claimed their third national title in program history on Friday night, as the Trolls defeated conference rivals Judson in an All-CCAC affair, 3-0 in the NCCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship final.

The victory comes as the 342nd for Trinity head coach Josh Lenarz, who will close a 23-yard career with a national title in his final match; Lenarz announced earlier this season his decision to step down and move to another role on campus in 2025.

Litzy Corona, the senior midfielder who joined Trinity three seasons ago, was named the NCCAA National Championship Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring in each of the Trolls’ three matches throughout the event. Corona joins three of her teammates on the All-Tournament Team, including junior goalkeeper Michelle Urribarri, junior defender Samantha Wind, and senior midfielder Jade Maldonado.

The Trolls took a first-half lead over the Eagles on Corona’s goal in the 25th minute, assisted by Nerea Genc. Trinity would maintain a one-goal advantage through the halftime break, before Emily Soriaga doubled their lead in the 58th minute with her third goal of the season.

After assisting on the first two goals, Genc would secure the win with her second goal of the year in the 61st minute to give the Trolls the 3-0 lead. Grace Wieneke distributed a pair of assists in the second half, as Trinity pulled away despite Judson out-shooting the Trolls 18-12 on the day.

Urribarri would finish with 11 saves to earn the win, including ten in the second half to hold off any attempts at a Judson comeback.

The NCCAA national title is the latest for Trinity Christian College, following up championships in women’s soccer in 2018 and 2005, and a pair in women’s volleyball in 2016 and 2014.