Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Florida International
Trojans Drop OT Match to FIU
10/18/2009 9:00:00 PM | Soccer
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University soccer team fell 2-1 to FIU in a nail-biting overtime match Sunday afternoon .
In the 98th minute a yellow card against the Trojans turned into the loss after a free-kick by FIU's Thaisa Moreno bounced around in the box and Amy Jackson finished the play with a goal for the OT victory.
With the loss against FIU (8-5-2, 6-1-1 Sun Belt), the Trojans dropped to 6-9-1 for the season and 2-6 in Sun Belt action. Troy has lost five straight games, a season-high.
The first goal came in the 12th minute, after a shot by FIU's Kassandra Sorzano was deflected by a Trojan defender and bounced past goal keeper Ashley Branham, for an own goal. The own goal was the second of the season against the Trojans.
Midway through the second half, Troy came close to tying the match after a corner kick from Bridget Duke. Following the Duke corner, Jill Pinder had a shot blocked and then Megan Bonfield sent a shot high over the crossbar to end the scoring opportunity.
Laura Hopson almost snuck one across the goal line in the 75th minute but the Golden Panthers' defense was a step quicker and cleared the ball away.
With one minute remaining in regulation, a foul on FIU in the goal box gave the Trojans their first penalty kick situation of the year.
Duke was selected and hammered the into the left side of the net for the equalizer, sending the Trojans into overtime for the seventh time this season.
Troy coach Chris Bentley said his team could not create the opportunites needed to get the winning goal.
"We were a bit unlucky today," Bentley said. "We gave up an own goal early and then played really tough in the second half to get ourselves back in the game. We need to do a better job creating opportunities in the final third, and unfortunately we lost in overtime. We are doing a great job of competing with everyone, we just need to get over the hump."
The Trojans were outshot 20-14 as Duke topped Troy's list with five shots and seniors Laura Hopson and Bonfield each totaled three shots, apiece.
Branham collected 10 saves on the day, upping her career saves total to 218, the fourth-highest total in school history.
The Trojans look to bounce back on Friday as they play host to Louisiana-Lafayette. Game time is set for 3 pm. Admission to all Troy soccer games is free.
