Late Goal Lifts Troy to Victory; Lewis Sets Wins Record

Sunday, September 24

Boone, N.C.

12 P.M.

Troy University

4-7-2 (2-2SBC)

Appalachian State

2-7-2 (1-2SBC)

Troy

Appalachian State

Late Goal Lifts Troy to Victory; Lewis Sets Wins Record

9/24/2017 3:02:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Wes Johnson

BOONE, North Carolina – Just days after conceding a late game-tying goal at Coastal Carolina, the Troy soccer team responded with determination as Kate Lorenz scored in the 88^th minute to lift the Trojans to a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State on the road on Sunday. Goalkeeper Mikki Lewis earned the shutout for her 36^th career win between the posts setting a new Troy career record.

After Kiersten Edlund's corner was cleared out of the box, Alison Watkins battled to win a 50-50 ball and skirted it back to Edlund, who put a perfect touch on a through ball between two defenders where Lorenz ran onto it and calmly placed her right-footed shot into the far side netting.

Lewis becomes the winningest goalkeeper in program history after surpassing Ashley Branham, who set the career wins mark with 35 between 2008-11. Lewis is a two-time All-Sun Belt selection and also owns Troy's career shutouts record with 29. The senior finished Sunday's game with four saves including a spectacular punch over the bar on a driven shot from distance in the game's opening minutes.

After leading for 78 minutes at Coastal Carolina on Friday, Troy conceded with just 59 seconds remaining in the game and ultimately fell in overtime. The team responded in a big way to pick up its second Sun Belt Conference win. Troy is now 4-7-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Appalachian State (2-7-2, 1-2 Sun Belt) had the majority of the chances early on firing six shots in the first 14 minutes. After a few mid-half adjustment, the Trojans began creating chances of their own. Maddie Brune came close to giving Troy the lead in the 28^th minute, but her header off an Edlund corner was cleared off the line by a Mountaineer defender. Troy allowed just three shots in the final 45 minutes of play.

QUOTABLE
On win
"I'm proud of the team," head coach Ged O'Connor said. "They instituted what we wanted them to do, worked hard and got the result. Especially after the way we lost on Friday, I was happy with the way they bounced back."

On Lewis' record
"Her longevity and experience and her ability to play with confidence and poise is a testament to the type of player Mikki is; I'm happy for her and her career accomplishment."

UP NEXT
Troy gets an extra day off this week as the team does not take the field again until Sunday when it hosts Sun Belt rival South Alabama. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Troy Soccer Complex.

NOTEWORTHY
• Lorenz has now scored three goals on the season, including two in the last three games. Two of her three goals have been game-winners.

• Edlund has a goal and two assists this season, all have come as a result from a corner or free kick. The sophomore scored directly off a free kick in Troy's 1-1 draw at Louisiana Tech and earned as assist on Nicole Strahl's headed goal against Florida State. Sunday's assist came after the Trojans won back the clearance off a corner and caught Appalachian State in transition.