Michael Shipma
Staff Writer
Troy rolled past Alabama State 6-0 while junior midfielder Alissa Jones broke Troy’s single-game record with 11 shots. The home opener was the first win for new head coach Jason Hamilton.
Of Jones’ 11 shots, five were on goal, with two goals in the match and an assist. Jones surpassed the previous single-game record of 10 shots set by three different players. The most recent was Jill Pender in 2008.
The Trojans (1-2) dominated on all fronts in the match, and controlled the tempo from start to finish. The Trojan defense was able to hold Alabama State (1-2) to six shots on the night.
The first of Troy’s six goals came from junior forward Chelsey Williams in the 25th minute. Williams’ shot from 22 yards out found the upper corner of the net and rewarded the Trojans’ early efforts with a score.
Two minutes later, Jones was able to put in another goal from 22 yards to give Troy a 2-0 lead. Three minutes later, junior midfielder Payton Donley added to that lead. Her chip shot off one of 10 corner kicks for Troy closed out scoring in the first half.
The scoring fest continued in the second half with a second goal in the 48th minute from Jones, whose chip-in goal came off a deflected save from the Hornets’ goalkeeper, senior Kylee Hathaway.
“After this weekend we were kind of in a dry spell,” Jones said. “We got scored on six times. But once we got one [goal], we felt more comfortable and we had more confidence. We knew that after one goal, it all would fall into place.”
In the 64th minute, freshman forward Natalie Melillo scored off a corner kick to put Troy up 5-0. Senior midfielder Jane Latif finished off the scoring for the night with a shot that went over the keeper’s head.
“I think once we started moving the ball and playing as a team, we can create chances,” Hamilton said. “It seemed like one of those games where if we could get one, it was going to open up. We obviously had some good looks and some really good goals, so there is a lot to be happy about.”
Troy will play Kennesaw State next in the Trojan Classic on Friday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Troy Soccer Complex.
