Kniska’s hat trick powers Trinity to 5-1 win in section semifinal

On October 20th, in Morgantown, Trinity Christian displayed an impressive performance against Oak Glen in a soccer match. Scoring two goals within the first six minutes seemed like it would allow Trinity to ease up, but it actually fueled their passion even more.

Senior Carmeloa Kniska, who scored both early goals, stated, “If anything, I think it gives us more energy actually. We had previously played against Oak Glen and achieved a positive outcome, but we knew they had improved, so we couldn’t be complacent. It helped us relax to an extent, but it also ignited a greater energy within us because we genuinely love the game and always give our best.”

Kniska accomplished a hat trick by adding a third goal in the first half, leading Trinity (10-6-5) to a 5-1 victory and securing their spot in the Class AA/A Region I, Section I championship on Saturday.

Reflecting on his first-half hat trick, Kniska expressed, “It felt pretty good, honestly. These games mark some of my final moments as a senior player, and I’m savoring every opportunity I get.”

Kniska’s opening goal occurred just two minutes into the game, as he swiftly broke away on the left side of the field. Two minutes later, he skillfully headed in a corner kick, further manifesting the Warriors’ dominance.

Interestingly, scoring in two-minute intervals is something Trinity’s head coach, Dan Lohmann, actively emphasizes.

Lohmann explained, “Human nature tends to relax a bit once a goal is scored, which can potentially lead to complacency. To combat this, we challenge our players to maintain their energy and strive for another goal within the next two minutes, regardless of whether we concede or score. This strategy keeps the momentum going.”

Starting the second half with a 3-0 lead, Lohmann urged his team to prioritize defensive assignments while still seeking scoring opportunities.

Lohmann emphasized, “We concentrated on tightening our defense and executing quick counter attacks. We encouraged our players to keep it simple, as they were occasionally overcomplicating things in the first half, resulting in the ball getting stuck to their feet.”

Evan Knight contributed Trinity’s fourth goal with an impressive finish from a crossing pass by Kniska, while Carter Hartsock concluded the scoring with a penalty kick, securing the fifth goal.

In the final minutes of the game, Oak Glen managed to find the back of the net when Preston Cole expertly curved a shot into the upper left corner, bringing the score to 5-1.

Senior Ben Lohmann delivered a commendable performance in goal, making eight saves for the Warriors, while Richie Gudino matched him with eight saves for the Golden Bears.

Trinity now awaits the winner between Weir and Wheeling Central for the section championship on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at their home stadium.

Kniska commented, “It’s going to be fun. We don’t know our opponent yet, but both Weir and Wheeling Central have been our rivals. Over the past three years, I’ve had some of my best games against them. It’s just another game, but we’re excited for the challenge.”