Soccer Blanks Arkansas State 1-0

Thursday, October 3

Troy, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

Arkansas State

Photo by: Joshua Thurston

10/3/2013 6:12:00 PM | Soccer

By: Tyler Pigg

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TROY, Ala. – Necee Jennings provided the game-winning goal in the 38^th minute and Madison Winter pitched her second shutout of the season as the Troy soccer team shutout Arkansas State 1-0 on Thursday at the Troy Soccer Complex to earn its first Sun Belt win of the year.

Troy (5-7-0, 1-1-0) finished with 25 shots in the win, marking the most shots by the Trojans against a Sun Belt Conference opponent in program history. The Trojans also snapped a four-match losing skid to Arkansas State (6-4-2, 1-1-0), which dated back to 2009.

"It was great to see the team being rewarded for all of their hard work," Troy head coach Chris Bentley said after the win. "It was a hard-earned result against a good Arkansas State team."

Troy fired shots early and often against the Red Wolves, posting 17 shots in the first half. The Trojans scored their lone goal of the match on a cross from the right side delivered by senior Cecilia Thorngren, who found a streaking Jennings in the six-yard box to capitalize on the error by Arkansas State's back line.

The goal marked Jennings' team-leading sixth of the season, while Thorngren recorded her 13^th career assist and now sits in sole possession of third place in school history. The senior forward is just one shy of tying the all-time mark in Troy history with former Trojans Maite Goicoechea (1998-00) and Tara Petrucci (2001-04).

The score was set up by a long pass from sophomore defender Kirsten Rendall in the middle of the field to set up the cross from Thorgnen to give the sophomore her first assist of the year.

Making her first start since in goal since Troy's season opener at Alabama State on Aug. 23, Madison Winter pitched her second shutout of the season en route to her second victory this year.

Winter finished with four saves and was untested until late in the second half. The shutout marked by the fourth clean sheet of the senior's career.

Red Wolves' keeper Amanda Lee took the loss for Arkansas State, allowing one goal and finishing with sevens saves.

Jennings led the Trojans with six shots, three on goal, while Samantha Morgan added four shots. Jane Latif and Maddie Tieken posted three shots while Abby Reynolds added two shots on goal in the win. Thorgren and Paige McMillian each recorded a pair of shots for the Trojans.

Troy begins a three-match road swing at UALR on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Trojans also face Western Kentucky and Georgia State during the three-game road trip next weekend.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter and Instagram and @TroyAthletics and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.