Troy University Athletics
Troy University
UALR
Troy Upends UALR in Conference Action
9/26/2009 5:45:00 AM | Soccer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Troy University soccer team opened the conference portion of their schedule in style, upending UALR 2-0 on the road to halt a three-match winless streak.
Not having won a match since a 15-0 victory over Alabama State, back on September 6, the Trojans needed a win to open the conference slate and needed to jump out early to gain some confidence against a UALR team that led the series coming into Friday night's match.
Troy (5-3-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) got just what they needed, an early goal, when Bridget Duke connected on her fifth goal of the season. The senior took a ball from freshman Niki Stamaris just inside the box, moved past the goalkeeper and put the ball into the net from eight yards out to give Troy the early one goal lead in the 31st minute of action.
The match stayed that way for the remainder of the first half, and for the first 35 minutes of the second half with UALR trying for the equalizer. The Trojans defense stayed tough, and allowed Mandy Miley to put the match out of reach in the 80th minute. The sophomore took a ball from fellow sophomore Mary Morris and hammered a shot from the right side of the box from 15 yards out to give a 2-0 lead with just 10 minutes remaining in the match.
Troy outshot UALR 22-7, posting 11 shots in each half and led by Laura Hopson and Morris with five each. Meanwhile, UALR (3-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) had five of their seven shots come off the foot of Christina Veasley in the loss. Ashley Branham recorded her third shutout of the season, in the Trojans second victory over UALR all-time in school history.
It is the first time since the 2005 season, the first meeting between the schools, that Troy has recorded a victory over UALR - ending a three-match losing streak. The victory in the conference opener is also fourth time in five years that the Trojans have won their conference opener in school history since joining the Sun Belt Conference.
Troy travels to Jonesboro to take on an Arkansas State team that they have had success against in the past, winning all four matches. The Trojans will be trying to record back-to-back conference victories to open the season 2-0 in conference play for the first time in school history, starting the previous four seasons at 1-1 in conference play.
The match is set for Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in Jonesboro.
