(PHOTO/April Irvin)
The Troy soccer team (7-9) plays its last home match of the season against ULM today, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m.
The Trojans are hot off a 1-0 victory Sunday, Oct. 20, at home against in-state and conference rival South Alabama.
It was a game that Troy dominated with control of the ball despite the low score.
“I thought it was a championship quality match that we saw, and I think there was elements of girls having to battle,” Troy head coach Chris Bentley said. “You see lots of ebbs and flows in games like that, and we had that in this game. I think that was something that the girls really needed.”
The Trojans took the lead in the 67th minute when freshman Necee Jennings scored her seventh goal of the season that was assisted by Annabell Simpson.
South Alabama attacked more in the second half and Troy senior goalkeeper Maddie Winter was flawless in goalkeeping, making seven saves despite a hard collision in the 88th minute.
South Alabama’s Nini Rabsatt-Smith was given a yellow card for pushing Troy midfielder Paige McMillian into Winter.
McMillian and Winter lay crumpled on the field after the hit and both players missed practice on Tuesday, Oct. 22, because of the impact.
The win Sunday leads the Trojans into a big game today against the Warhawks of ULM.
“Certainly going into Thursday playing against a Louisiana Monroe team that is coming off a big win against Texas State,” Bentley said. “They have a chance of getting in the tournament, so they are going to be fighting for their lives.”
Bentley said that ULM has the ability to control the ball, a key that Troy will look to disrupt in order to win.
The Trojans’ final regular season match of the season will be on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. when Troy plays Louisiana-Lafayette on the road.
“There is a very real chance that we could be playing them in a situation where they could win the league,” Bentley said.
Troy will have a chance to play spoiler for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ possible Sun Belt crown aspirations, but once the tournament begins the only thing that is certain is that anything can happen.
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