HISTORIC NIGHT IN NASHVILLE: NO. 20 TREVECCA TROJANS DOMINATE SPRING HILL IN RECORD-BREAKING 4-0 VICTORY
Fresh off their first-ever NCAA Division II national ranking, Trevecca men’s soccer makes history on home turf behind Chris Douglas’ hat trick and Hunter Walker’s record-setting shutout.
A Night for the Record Books at Trojan Soccer Pitch
NASHVILLE, TN - Entering Wednesday night’s match, expectation and excitement filled the air at the Trojan Soccer Pitch. After a week layoff, the Trevecca Nazarene University men’s soccer team returned home carrying unprecedented momentum. Just one day prior, head coach Danny Leavy’s squad debuted at No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II poll—earning the program’s first national coaches' poll ranking in its Division II history after previously receiving votes for three consecutive weeks.
With national visibility and crucial Gulf South Conference (GSC) points on the line, Trevecca welcomed the Spring Hill College Badgers for a match that quickly turned into a landmark showcase for Trojan soccer.
Defensive Tightness to Offensive Explosion
The contest began as a tactical, tightly contested defensive battle. Through the opening 40 minutes, clear-cut scoring opportunities were sparse, with Trevecca managing just three shots and Spring Hill generating one.
However, in the 43rd minute, the Trojans broke the deadlock. Senior attacker Chris Douglas found the back of the net off passes from Phillip Collins and Haden Brown to give Trevecca a 1-0 advantage right before halftime.
That opening goal opened the floodgates. In the 55th minute, Levi Jones doubled the Trojans' lead, finishing a setup from Zion Jones to mark his first goal since the season opener against King University.
From there, Douglas completely took over. In the 67th minute, after Daniel Shiel struck the post, Douglas was right there to tap home the rebound. Eleven minutes later, Shiel delivered a pinpoint cross that Douglas headed home in the 78th minute to seal a brilliant hat trick and cap off the 4-0 victory.
Rewriting the Program History Books
The dominant performance didn't just secure three vital points; it rewrote Trevecca’s NCAA-era record books:
Chris Douglas moved into first place in Division II in goals per match (1.18) and tied for second in total goals. His hat trick elevated his season totals to 13 goals and 30 points—both setting new single-season program marks for Trevecca’s NCAA era, surpassing Jonathan Baskin’s 10 goals in 2012 and Jeremiah Wright’s 25 points in 2013.
Hunter Walker, the sophomore goalkeeper from Franklin, Tennessee, recorded three saves to earn his sixth clean sheet of the season. This breaks his own single-season record from last year. Walker also earned his 11th career shutout, officially surpassing Braydon Brown's career mark of 10.5 set from 2011–2014.
10-Win Milestone: The victory pushed Trevecca to 10-1-2 overall, tying the overall program record of 10 wins set by Stan Herod’s 2003 team.
Looking Ahead to the GSC Championship Race
With two regular-season matches remaining, Trevecca sits just one point behind the University of Alabama-Huntsville and three points behind league leader Auburn University Montgomery in the GSC standings. However, with six available points remaining for Trevecca compared to just three for UAH, the Trojans control their own destiny. Winning out would guarantee Trevecca at least a share of the GSC crown.
Next up, the Trojans head south on Saturday for a high-stakes road battle against Auburn Montgomery (9-1-3, 6-0-2 GSC) at 3:30 p.m., where the winner will claim the top seed in the upcoming GSC Championship.
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