Troy Falls in Post Season

Wednesday, November 2

Murfreesboro, TN

TBA

Troy University

North Texas

Photo by: Cass Davis

11/2/2011 7:29:00 PM | Soccer

The Trojans fall in their third straight post season apearance 2-0, now prepare for next season.

By: Ben Maxwell

Murfreesboro, Tenn. – In their third straight post season appearance the Trojan soccer team (9-11-1, 4-7) fell to the regular season champions North Texas (13-4-2, 8-1-1) on Wednesday 2-0.

The Troy squad held their own against the top seeded Mean Green however, the Trojans fell behind in the 26' after a Michelle Young goal. The Trojans stood tall taking North Texas into the half only down a goal.

The Trojan defense continued to hold until the 87' when Mean Green's Nikki Crocco netted the final goal making the final score 2-0 with North Texas on top.

“We competed at times today, but that's not enough against a team like UNT,” said head coach Chris Bentley.
The young Trojan team will now have to start preparing for another season to build on their success of the 2011 season.
“We are young and have a ton to build on for next year,” said Bentley.

In the 2011 season, Freshmen Chelsey Williams and Alissa Jones flew onto the scene to compete with returning junior Ruth Sutcliffe for the team's leading scorer. After a tough race throughout the season Williams claimed the team's leading scoring status with nine goals, while Jones and Sutcliffe would tie with seven each.

Junior Nikki Stamaris and sophomore Maddie Tieken would both claim two goals each, while Stamaris tied with sophomore Sydney Eppler for the most assists on the season with three each.

The Trojan soccer team will also have to say goodbye to two seniors that have strongly impacted the team over the past four years.

Senior Mary Morris rounded out the season totaling two goals and one assist. Morris will leave the Trojans holding multiple records. She is the second leading career scorer with 21 total goals, setting her just behind former Trojan Jill Pinder with 23 career goals. Morris is also second in most career shots with 132 following former Trojans Erin Doud with 138. Morris is third in most career assists for the Trojans with 10 and currently holds the record for most career points with 52 points.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Branham has also left a mark at Troy University, breaking six records as a Trojan. Branham holds records in career saves with over 400 saves, career shutouts with 21 shutouts, best career goal against average with 1.15, minutes played with over 3,200 minutes, best goal against average in a season recording 1.21 GAA in 2008, and the most shutouts in a season totaling seven shutouts in 2008.

Both seniors comprise a class that has made a run of 37 wins over their four year careers at Troy; six more wins than the team has achieved during the six seasons before their arrival on campus.

Off the field they have participated in many community service facets including: Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Read Across America, and have been very influential in promoting healthy life styles among the youth in local elementary schools.

“Our seniors have been a part of making this program relevant over the past four years,” said Bentley. “They are going to make a tremendous impact in their respective communities wherever they end up. We are so proud of them.”

Follow TroyTrojans.com for all post season and off season updates. Fans can also find us on Twitter: @TroyAthletics.