Trojans Return Home for Matchups Against Georgia State, Georgia Southern

TROY, Ala. -- The Troy soccer program returns to the Troy Soccer Complex this weekend for a pair of matches against Georgia State (Friday night, 7 p.m.) and Georgia Southern (Sunday afternoon, 1 p.m.).

Both Friday's matchup against Georgia State, and Sunday's matchup against Georgia Southern will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on Troystats.com.

After this weekend, the Trojans return to action next Sunday afternoon when South Alabama visits the Troy Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Troy (0-3-0, 0-3-0 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia State (3-1-0, 2-1-0 Sun Belt)
DATE: October 2, 2020
LOCATION: Troy Soccer Complex (Troy, Ala.)
KICKOFF: 7 p.m.
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Troystats.com
SERIES: Troy leads the all-time series 4-3-1; (3-0 at Troy)

HOW TO FOLLOW: Troy (0-3-0, 0-3-0 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia Southern (0-4-0, 0-2-0 Sun Belt)
DATE: October 4, 2020
LOCATION: Troy Soccer Complex (Troy, Ala.)
KICKOFF: 1 p.m.
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Troystats.com
SERIES: Troy leads the all-time series 6-2; (3-0 at Troy)

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS:
• 50 percent capacity in the bleachers
• Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit around the track
• Face coverings are mandatory at all times
• Select pre-packaged food and drink items at the concession stand.

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE:
Troy is unbeaten in its last eight home matches. The Trojans have won seven in a row at home and five consecutive SBC matches at the Troy Soccer Complex. In five home matches last season, the Trojans outscored opponents 16-3.

TO THE HOME TEAM GOES THE SPOILS:
Troy is 3-0 all-time against Georgia State at the Troy Soccer Complex. The home team has won six of the seven all-time matchups. Last season Troy defeated Georgia State 3-0 (Sept. 27). In that match, Alisa Detlefsen and Karina Valeriano found the back of the net for the Trojans.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: The 2020 Trojans roster features just one senior (Eleonore Freby). The Trojans and head coach Ged O'Connor welcomed 14 newcomers to Troy this season. Four freshmen have started every match (Anderson, Bloomfield, LaRoche and Tessier) for Troy this season. Back on Sept. 20 at South Alabama five Trojans (Anderson, Babineaux, Bloomfield, LaRoche and Tessier) earned the start. In total, nine of the Trojans 14 true freshmen have seen action.

GOALS, GOALS AND MORE GOALS: In 2019 the Trojans scored 41 goals in 19 games (2.16 goals per game), and a Sun Belt best 24 goals in 10 SBC matches (2.4 goals per game). The 41 total goals were the second-most in program history.

TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK:
The Trojans are hoping a bit of home-cooking will help the team snap a three-match losing streak. The three-match losing streak began two weekends ago at South Alabama. In that match, the Trojans fell 2-1 in double overtime. With the Trojans up 1-0, the match looked to be over, but a last-second penalty kick tied the match at one. Three minutes and change into double overtime South Alabama found the game-winner. Last weekend in the Carolinas, Troy fell 1-0 at Appalachian State (Sept. 25) and 2-0 at Coastal Carolina (Sept. 27).

ON THE PROWL:
Georgia State enters the weekend just three points behind first-place South Alabama. The Panthers started the season with back-to-back 2-1 victories over Mercer (Sept. 11) and Appalachian State (Sept. 17) GSU dropped its first match of the season back on Sept. 20 against Coastal Carolina (4-2), before rebounding for a 1-0 clean sheet against Georgia Southern last Sunday (Sept.27). Statistically, Liz Fogarty has led the way for Georgia State, scoring twice in her three appearances. Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Jimena Cabrero has yet to find the score sheet for the Panthers, after scoring six times a season ago (tied for seventh-most in the Sun Belt). So far Jaddah Foos (2 games, 1 goal allowed) and Maria Subies (3 games, five goals allowed) have split the goalkeeper duties.

EAGLE EYES:
Georgia Southern enters the weekend looking to secure its first victory of the season. So far this year, the Eagles have lost all four matches that they have played. In the opener back on Sept. 14, the Eagles dropped a 2-1 decision to The Citadel. After seeing the Sun Belt opener against Coastal Carolina postponed, the Eagles hosted Appalachian State, falling 3-0 in that contest. Last weekend, Georgia Southern dropped a pair of 1-0 games to Mercer (Sept. 24) and Georgia State (Sept. 27). Freshman Maria D'Angelo has scored the lone Georgia Southern goal, a 40th-minute strike against The Citadel. In net, Sara Story and Sallie Newton have split the goalkeeper duties, with Story and Newton each making two starts. Newton has made nine saves on the year, while Story has made seven.

GED TALKS:
"Our girls have had a distinct edge this week in training this week, and they're clearly not happy. It's been clear during out training sessions that this group wants to get back to winning. The message this week has been all about how well we've protected our home pitch and how we need to keep doing that. Our girls are enjoying getting ready to play at home and not have to play on the road. It's always hard to take long bus trips and stay in hotels, but this year it has an added element with all of our COVID protocols. As a coach, I'd always rather us give up goals due to tactical mistakes or errors, rather than the other team being better. Our team has had a great opportunity to learn this last week. Hopefully, they have had the opportunity to learn from the mistakes so far. With such a young team this is the perfect learning year because there's very little pressure. Hopefully, our girls can go out this weekend, enjoy the experience and earn two positive results."

Trojans Return Home for Matchups Against Georgia State, Georgia Southern

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alisa Detlefsen

Eleonore Freby

Karina Valeriano

Troy University Athletics

Trojans Return Home for Matchups Against Georgia State, Georgia Southern

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alisa Detlefsen

Eleonore Freby

Karina Valeriano

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