Troy Begins Second Season at App State, Coastal Carolina

Friday, September 20

Boone, N.C.

6 p.m.

Troy University

Appalachian State

Photo by: Andrew Stern

Troy Begins Second Season at App State, Coastal Carolina

9/19/2019 4:37:00 PM | Soccer

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. -- It all begins this weekend for the Troy Trojans soccer program, as Sun Belt Conference play gets underway with a pair of matchups at Appalachian State (Friday) and Coastal Carolina (Sunday) this weekend.

The Trojans (5-1-2), who will look to build on the programs most successful non-conference season since 2015, enter the weekend having won three of the last four matches overall.

Last weekend, Troy completed a perfect weekend, defeating Southern University 3-1 and Jacksonville 1-0 in overtime.

On Friday, senior Kiersten Edlund recorded her third and fourth assists of the season, increasing her team-best point total to 10. Sophomore Nicole Golden scored her first career-goal off an Alisa Detlefsen free-kick to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Subsequent goals by Kate Lorenz and Kate Eubanks proved to be the difference.

Sunday, the Trojans earned the program's first overtime victory of the season, as Caroline Tully recorded her first career-goal just three minutes and 39 seconds into the first overtime period. The strike was the Trojans first non-regulation goal of the season. Freshman Gabby Cossette and Haleigh Mercer made a combined five saves to preserve the victory.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Troy (5-1-2) vs. Appalachian State (2-4-1)
Date: Friday, Sept. 20
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Watch: Watch Live
Live Stats: TroyTrojansStats.com
Twitter: @TroyTrojansWSOC

HOW TO FOLLOW: Troy (5-1-2) vs. Coastal Carolina (2-4-1)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 22
Kickoff: 12 Noon
Watch: Watch Live
Stats: TroyTrojansStats.com
Twitter: @TroyTrojansWSOC

SERIES HISTORY (Appalachian State):
Overall: Troy leads 3-2
            At Troy: 2-1, Troy leads
            At Boone: 2-1, App State leads
Last Meeting: Sept. 21, 2018- 3-2 App State victory (at Troy)

SERIES HISTORY (Coastal Carolina):
Overall: Coastal leads 3-0
            At Troy: 2-0, Coastal leads
            At Conway: 1-0 Coastal leads

BALANCED ATTACK:
So far this season, 10 different Trojans have founded the back of the net, while 12 players have recorded a point. After scoring just 18 times in 20 matches, Troy has scored 17 times through the first eight matches this season.

RED-HOT:
The Trojans enter the beginning of conference play with the best overall record in the Sun Belt Conference at 5-1-2. South Alabama (5-2-1) and Arkansas State (4-3) round out the top three, followed by Louisiana (4-3-1), Texas State (4-3-1), ULM (3-3-1), Little Rock (3-4-2), Georgia State (3-4-1), Georgia Southern (3-4), Appalachian State (2-4-1) and Coastal Carolina (2-4-1).

MERCER ME:
Senior Haleigh Mercer has been one of the best goalies in the Sun Belt so far this season. The Floridian has allowed the third fewest goals (8) in the conference and leads the Sun Belt Conference in save percentage (.843) and total saves (43).

YOUTH MOVEMENT:
Eight of the Trojans 17 goals have been scored by underclassmen so far this season, while six true-freshmen have seen action.

SECOND-HALF MAGIC:
The Trojans have been a juggernaut in the second half this season, having outscored opponents 11-2 following halftime.

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN:
Appalachian enters the weekend with a record of 2-4-1 overall. So far this season, the Mountaineers are unbeaten (2-0-1) at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex having beaten FIU (2-1) and UNC Asheville (6-0). The Mountaineers and Trojans have faced one common opponent so far this season in Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles and Trojans played to 0-0 draw in the season's opening weekend. Two weekends ago, Tennessee Tech defeated Appalachian State 2-1. Freshman Haley Boyles is the reigning Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week after recording a goal and an assist in App State's 2-1 victory over FIU.

COASTING:
Coastal Carolina enters this weekend's action with a record of 2-4-1 overall. After dropping the first four matches of the season to North Florida (2-0), Clemson (6-0), UNCW (3-1) and Campbell (2-0), the Chanticleers are unbeaten in the last three matches. The Chants and Trojans have also played one common opponent, Jacksonville. CCU picked up its first win of the season back on Sept. 6, defeating Jacksonville 3-1. Last Sunday, Troy defeated Jacksonville 1-0 in overtime. Iceland native Sunny Sigurvinsdottir has paced the Coastal attack, tallying four of her teams 10 goals this season.

GED TALKS:
"This is a difficult start to conference play for us. We need to drive all the way to App State which is a difficult place to play because of the altitude and turf facility. Then we need to make our way down to Coastal. It's a difficult weekend, but it'll show us what we have. The girls are prepared well, and I think are ready. We should be able to go out there and give it a good run."

On Coastal Carolina:
"It's another difficult place because it's usually incredibly hot and humid. It's a big field, they're at home, and we will have just made a long trip. So, we'll have our work cut out for us. But that's why we play the games. Overall, it should be two good games against two good teams with two excellent coaching staffs. I think we've prepared well, now we have to see if our girls can do what we want them to do."

On Sun Belt play:
"Everyone right now is 0-0. It doesn't matter if you win all of your non-conference games if you don't pay attention to the conference games. The first part of the season is over. The preparation phase is over. And now we're doing more maintaining in practice. Let's see if we've done enough so far."