Trojan Soccer Ready For 2012
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: August 16, 2012
The
Troy University soccer team gets the 2012 season underway on Friday
with a non-conference matchup against in-state rival Alabama State.
The
Trojans, who were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference
pre-season poll, return a solid group of athletes, including seven
starters from a season ago.
Seniors Nikki Stamaris and Erin Cersley will look to take control over a
young team that includes nine freshmen and seven sophomores.
Four
of last years' top-five scorers return, including freshman sensations
Chelsey Williams and Alissa Jones. Williams led the team in 2011 with
19 points, on nine
goals and one assist, while Jones finished tied for second with 16
points on seven goals and two assists. Stamaris and Maddie Tieken will
also be called upon to contribute this season.
A
trio of juniors leads the way at midfield, in Samantha Morgan, Kailani
Decock and Cecilia Thorngren. Joining them will be Jane Latif, who will
be looking to make
her Trojan debut in 2012, after missing the last two seasons due to
injury.
Troy
brings a young, but experienced, collection of defenders this season.
Cersley leads the unit that includes sophomores Karina Moore, Georgia
Wallis and Paige
McMillan.
Nine newcomers will also be vying for playing time on the field this season.
Troy
is in unfamiliar territory, looking for a new starter in net.
Four-year starter Ashley Branham started 78 games over the past four
years. This season, Caitlin
Buono, Maddie Winter and Katie Comeno-Lewis will all be battling for
minutes.
The
Trojans have never lost to the Hornets, winning all six matchups and
outscoring ASU 52-1 over that span. Last season, Troy beat Alabama
State 5-0 in Montgomery
in the season opener. Jones scored twice and added one assist in her
Troy debut, while Cersley, Williams and Tieken each scored once.
Alabama State mustered just three shots all game, with one reaching
Trojan goalkeeper Branham.
In 2009, Troy set a program-record by shutting out Alabama State 15-0.
For
more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com.
Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at
Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
