Troy Falls To Sun Belt Conference Leader Denver On Sunday

Sunday, October 10

Troy, AL

12 noon

Troy University

University of Denver

Photo by: Cass Davis

Troy Falls To Sun Belt Conference Leader Denver On Sunday

10/10/2010 2:55:45 PM | Soccer

The Trojans must regroup to face UALR and Arkansas State on the road next weekend

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score | Photo Gallery

TROY, Ala. – The day was set up perfect for the Troy University soccer team as they had the best team in the conference on their field; and they were honoring their five seniors prior to the contest.

But for the third time in four matches, the Trojans took on one of the Sun Belt Conference finest teams on Sunday afternoon. And on this occasion, the Trojans were unable to bounce back from an early goal, falling to Sun Belt Conference-leading Denver 4-0 at the Troy Soccer Complex.

Denver (12-2, 6-0 Sun Belt) didn't waste time getting on the board as they pushed the ball down the pitch on the Trojans to get a corner kick. The ball sent in by Nicholette DiGiacomo deflected off a player sending Troy goalkeeper Ashley Branham diving to the near post; however, the ball went to the feet of Katy Van Lieshout who knocked it to the far post before Branham could get back for the early 1-0 lead for the visitors just 81 seconds into the match.

The match would stay that way going into the half, as the Trojans were able to fight off the Pioneer efforts defensively.

“I think it showed we can compete with teams at this level all weekend, it's not just Denver, but its all weekend,” Troy head coach Chris Bentley said. “Where we are disappointed is the fact we can't put complete games together, and we focus on that all the time.”

The Trojans were unable to equalize before Denver struck again, this time in the 47th minute off the foot of Kristen Hamilton. She took a cross from the right side from Kaitlin Bast to put Denver up 2-0.

From that point, Troy (8-5-1, 3-3 Sun Belt) was unable to come back on the Pioneers and gave up two more goals late in the contest, both off of corner kicks.

“When it comes down to corner kick management or set piece management, it just comes down to heart,” Bentley said. “I think this weekend we didn't really show that in times we needed to. Those are times of urgency and we didn't do that.

"On another weekend we would be solid in that, I think it just showed this weekend that we didn't have what we needed. We are just going to have to put an emphasis on it this week to say that is what you need to win at the highest level.”

Denver was able to put the game away on goals from DiGiacomo on a corner from Bria Beardsley as the ball was deflected by Hamilton for the 3-0 lead in the 70th minute. They scored again on a corner when Kari Storslett took a corner from Hamilton that was deflected by Allison Kenney for the final margin.

Although the Trojans fell Sunday afternoon, they must now regroup for the remainder of the conference season. They find themselves in the hunt for a berth in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, but have two tough matches coming up next weekend.

“Both Arkansas teams are going to be very good, it doesn't matter what the results were in the past we just have to deal with what is in front of us,” Bentley said. “We can't control what anyone else does in the league now; all we can control are the games in front of us. Next weekend is a big weekend, and we just have to train hard to prepare.

"We just have to make a good turn around, I think we can and I believe in the fact that we can. We just have to believe in ourselves.”

Troy returns to action next Friday on the road against UALR, and then again on Sunday against Arkansas State before returning home for their final home match of the season.

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