Seniors Lead the Way for Troy Soccer

TROY, Alabama - This weekend was a historical weekend for the Troy soccer team's senior class. Not only did they play an instrumental part in two wins, they also helped this program have the second best season in school history already with 11 wins and became the class with the most wins in program history.

The win over Texas State and Appalachian State saw seniors Jasmine Fahrnbauer, Payton Donley, Alissa Jones, Kirsten Rendall and Chelsey Williams pick up their 43rd and 44th victories as Trojans' passing the previous record of 42 wins.

Williams scored the first goal of the evening on Friday stretching her program record for career goals to 30 and career points to 74. This season Williams has moved to second place all-time in career assists with 14, shots with 156 and shots on goal with 91.

"Chelsey is a goal scorer, she has a real knack around the goal," Jason Hamilton said. "You can tell when she has the ball that she is confident and is going to create something. Over her career she finds ways to score at big moments in the season like Friday night."

Jones assisted one goal on Friday night and scored two on Sunday. Jones' assist on Friday night moved her to the all-time assist leader for the program with 15. She also sits as the all-time career leader in shots (224), game winning goals (10), shots on goal (96) and currently ranks second all-time in career goals scored with 26 and points with 67.

"Alissa has been an offensive power house for our group these past two seasons," Hamilton said. "Last year when we came in for camp, we moved her to a more attacking role and haven't looked back. She has been extremely productive with scoring and assists and growing as a player along the way."

Donley moved to third all-time in career minutes played with 6,556. Donley has led on the best defenses in program history the past two years. Not to be left out on a great offensive weekend, Donley assisted on the game-winning goal Friday night to help team on both sides of the ball.

"Payton started every game for us last year and we knew she would be instrumental in this seasons success," Hamilton said. "Last year she played every minute of the season and that is very hard to do. Her work rate off the field is a great example to others, she prepares her self physically and mentally to not ever need to come off."

Fahrnbauer moved to fourth all-time in career minutes played with 6,407. Fahrnbauer scored the game winner on Sunday with a header off of a corner kick.

"Jasmine is one of the best players in the air I have seen, her willingness and timing are amazing," Hamilton said. "I am very proud of Jasmine, she has really developed as a player over the past two years since I arrived here. That is a tough thing to do, when you have been playing this game for so long and someone come around and wants to teach you so much new stuff. She has really accepted that challenge we have given her as a staff."

Rendall, who has been a utility player her entire career here at Troy, transitioned back to a defender six games ago and has started ever since. Rendall assisted on the game winner Sunday as well as played a full 90 minutes and helped secure the league leading seventh shutout for the Trojans.

"Kirsten is a coaches player. She works harder than anyone on the team 365 days a year. Kirsten was a starter before I arrived, and until recently never started for me. That could of really broke her as a player, but her mental toughness is incredible. She has been an amazing example to all of her teammates as someone who accepts the role given to them, and works as hard as they can no matter what until their number is called. She is starting for us now, playing the best I have seen her, and deserves every minute on the field she is getting."

"These young ladies are very talented and have really handled the adversity that comes with a coaching change. We have moved them in to different positions and asked them to play completely different than they did in the past. I have held them to a very high standard over the past two seasons. I have not been their favorite person at all times, but I hope they leave here as better people and prepared for the real world, just as they will leave the soccer program better than when they got here."

The seniors will be honored on Friday, October 23 against Arkansas State at 7 p.m.

For more information on Troy soccer, as well as all of Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find the Trojans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat by searching for Troy Athletics.

Troy University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Payton Donley

Jasmine Fahrnbauer

Alissa Jones

Kirsten Rendall

Chelsey Williams

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