Troy Soccer Opens 2018 Season at Jacksonville

TROY, Alabama – For the fourth time in six seasons, the Troy soccer team will open its season away from home as the squad travels to face Jacksonville on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT).

The Trojans return 11 players and welcome 19 new faces in head coach Ged O'Connor's second season at the helm of the program. Troy and Jacksonville square off for the seventh time in program history with the Dolphins leading the series 4-1-1.

Junior captain Maddie Brune will lead the young squad onto the field supported by four seniors – Claire Taylor, Natalie Melillo, Megan Aaron and Lauren Aldrich. Brune anchored the Trojan defense playing nearly 1,700 minutes in 20 games last season. In 2017, Troy posted eight shutouts, most in the Sun Belt Conference.

O'Connor and company are aiming to improve on the 6-4-0 conference mark from a season ago that placed Troy third in the league.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Date: Thursday, Aug. 16
Kickoff: 6 p.m. (CT)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: JUDolphins.com
Twitter: @TroyTrojansWSOC

SERIES INFO
Overall Series: JU leads, 4-1-1
            At Troy: Tied, 1-1-1
            At Jacksonville: JU leads, 4-0
            At Neutral: 0-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 10, 2004 – Tied, 0-0 at Troy

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Dolphins chalked up a 5-11-0 record last season with a 2-5-0 mark in Atlantic Sun play. Jacksonville returns goalkeeper Brittany Hundley, who enters the year in the top 10 of numerous JU record categories including saves (87) and goals against average (2.13). In the team's two exhibitions, the Dolphins drew with Georgia Southern, 0-0, and defeated NAIA foe Southeastern (Fla.), 2-1.

NOTEWORTHY
• 15 different players scored goals for the Trojans last season, yet only six of those players are returning for 2018.

• Junior Maddie Brune has been named the team's captain for the second consecutive season.

• Troy boasts five college transfers on its roster – Brittney Rankins (Southern Miss), Nathali DaSilva (East Florida State College), Natalie Melillo (Saint Leo), and Miranda Schoening (North Texas). Senior Lauren Aldrich will play her second season in a Troy uniform since transferring from UMass Lowell last year.

• Melillo played her first two collegiate seasons at Troy recording five goals and two assists in 38 games before transferring to Saint Leo University near Tampa, Fla. The Nutley, N.J., native played one full year for the Lions before suffering an injury during her senior season. Melillo was granted a medical redshirt and transferred back to Troy for her fifth and final year of eligibility.

For more information on Troy soccer, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWSOC.

Troy Soccer Opens 2018 Season at Jacksonville

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Megan Aaron

Lauren Aldrich

Maddie Brune

Nathali DaSilva

Natalie Melillo

Brittney Rankins

Miranda Schoening

Claire Taylor

Troy University Athletics