Complete Performance Propels Trojans Past South Alabama

Friday, October 4

Troy, Ala.

7 p.m.

Troy University

8-2-3, 3-1-1

South Alabama

8-3-2, 3-1-1

South Alabama

TROY

Complete Performance Propels Trojans Past South Alabama

10/4/2019 10:30:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. -- Behind one of the most complete performances of the season, the Troy Trojans soccer program defeated rival South Alabama 2-0 Friday evening at Troy Soccer Complex in front of a raucous home crowd.

The victory vaults the Trojans (8-2-3, 3-1-1 Sun Belt) into a three-way tie for first place in the Sun Belt with the Jaguars (8-3-2, 3-1-1 Sun Belt) and Arkansas State (3-0-1) and ensures the Trojans will have the tiebreaker over South.

After a quick start that saw Troy outshoot South Alabama 5-0 over the first 20-minutes, Troy finally found the back of the net in the 23^rd minute when Alisa Detlefsen made a nifty touch to control a bouncing ball in the Jaguars box.

The midfielder then turned fired a shot that deflected off a defender and into the goal. The score gave Troy a 1-0 lead.

Following the halftime intermission, the Trojans quickly doubled the lead, when Melissa Kuya-Strobel received a perfect through-ball from Kendra Cashion and found a wide open Nathali DaSilva in the middle of the 18-yard box.

DaSilva calmly slotted a shot into the net for the Trojans second goal of the match.

Goalkeeper Haleigh Mercer and the Trojan back-line kept the potent South Alabama attack off the board, holding them to just eight total shots. Mercer made six total saves on the match.

Troy returns to action on Sunday, when Georgia Southern visits Troy Soccer Complex. Kickoff for senior day is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early as Troy will honor DaSilva, Mercer and the eight Troy seniors.

NOTEABLE:
• Troy, Arkansas State and South Alabama are all currently tied atop the Sun Belt standings with 10 points. The Red Wolves earned a crucial point at Georgia State this evening, playing to a scoreless draw.
• With tonight's two-goal performance, the Trojans are now outscoring opponents 21-2 this season at home, and improve to 5-0-1 at Troy Soccer Complex.
• Troy improves to 8-0-2 when scoring first this season.
• Troy recorded the program's fifth clean sheet of the season.
• South Alabama had previously outscored opponents 8-0 in Sun Belt matches and had a 423-minute scoreless streak entering the match.
• The Trojans are just the second program to score two goals against South Alabama this season.
• Troy held South Alabama to just one first half shot and eight for the game. The eight total shots tie the Jaguars lowest output of the season. South previously recorded eight shots against Southern Miss (Sept. 5) and Miss State (Sept. 12).
• DaSilva's goal was her team-best fifth of the year. She now 12 points on the year.
• Mercer lowered her goals-against-average to 0.96 tonight. She has allowed just 12 goals in 13 matches.
• Cashion's assist was her sixth of the season, which is a new career-best.

GED TALKS:
"We're winning these games in a variety of different ways, which shows great character. We've got fantastic kids. The support we got from our crowd and fans tonight was excellent. We also paid attention to the way our bench was reacting, and they were phenomenal. The way that the bench was able to make themselves a factor was impressive. The positivity that we're building is carrying us. We just need to keep it going. Tonight, I think we entered the game believing and thinking we could win. We got to halftime and we were a little bit nervous because there was a little bit of expectation. Going into the second-half, I think we played like we knew we're a good team. We know we can compete, and that's a tremendous sight. We had former players who came up to me and noticed what we're building here. It begins in the back with Haleigh who recorded another clean sheet tonight. Then it continues with our back line, led by two sophomores' in Noelle [Golden] who has been incredible, and then Kate [Eubanks]. Then we have Rina [Valeriano] and Kate Lorenz on the outside. It's been a fantastic team effort all season long."

On Sunday's Senior Day:
"I'm turning the page already, but we want to let the players enjoy tonight. Senior Day is always a special occasion. It's always sad and a great day. All eight of the players are fantastic people and representatives of our program. I'm sad to see all of them go. There are several who have given a heck of a lot to Troy University. It's great to see them go out and play the way they're playing. We've got pay attention to the little things and prepare to earn another three points."