NTL GIRLS' SOCCER: RETOOLED TROY READY TO DEFEND THEIR LEAGUE TITLE (2022-08-24)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
For the past two years the Troy Trojans have been the top team in the NTL for girls’ soccer. In 2020 they shared the league title with Athens and Wellsboro, then last year they won it outright, with their only loss coming to the Wildcats.

So, this year, they’re going for the 3-peat.

“I think it actually pushes us to want to be even better than last year,” Taylor Williams remarked. “I think our success was great, but I think we can be even better this year.”

They lose one of the best classes Troy’s ever had on the field - led by NTL Player of the Year Emmi Ward.

“It’ll be rough because we won’t have our back three anymore,” said Chloe Swain. “But we’ve got to get used to that.”

Their numbers will help cushion the blow - they boast 25 on their roster - and they bring one of their more talented freshmen classes, with several girls looking to step in and start right away.

“I’m just so excited for the new talent,” Caelyn Pine said. “There’s so many new people here, that the freshmen coming in are so talented. They’re so eager, and they have so much passion. I know they have so much talent, we’re going to be a newer team, but I’m so excited.”

Their biggest returnee, though, is their leading goal scorer from last year Addy Parker. She’ll be a junior this year, and likely be even more of a target for opposing team’s defenders.

“You just have to keep yourself open, keep trying has hard as you can,” Parker said. 

It helps that she has such good chemistry with her teammates, particularly forward Camille McRoberts.

“It’s really good knowing that you can depend on her pretty well, and that she’s going to get the ball out there for you,” Parker said. “She’s working really hard to do whatever she can.”

McRoberts is particularly motivated this year as she missed the end of last season with an injury.

“Losing that district game really motivates me to push harder this year to not get hurt,” said McRoberts. “And then, hopefully, I have a good last season.”

She also welcomes her sister Alexis McRoberts onto the team.

“I think it’s going to be really cool,” McRoberts remarked. “We just know each other so well, that I don’t even have to talk to her. It’s going to be amazing.”

Working the other side of the field will be senior MaKenna Matthews.

“I’m focused on making the most one last year, and reaching as many goals as I can before I go,” Matthews said. 

She plans on rotating with a lot girls throughout the game.

“It’s really fortunate having a lot of depth, and young girls that are really talented,” said Matthews.

Williams will be playing in the midfield alongside McRoberts, and admits it will be a little different without their normal defense behind them.

“We’ve got great playing coming up, so it’ll be a great time,” she said. “I think that we’ve got crazy good talent, a good deep bench, so it’s going to be great.”

Pine and Swain are two that could make up the new defensive back.

“Some people are going to have to try some new positions,” said Pine. “We may have to pull up some freshmen, or take some from the JV, but I know we’ll make adjustments, and we’ll have no problem.”

If they didn’t have targets on their back last year, they definitely do this season, as every team will be giving them their best shot.

“It’s kind of scary because now you have to look out for new teams that are going to try and take the NTL,” Swain remarked.

But they’ve traveled these seas before, and want to continue to keep the Trojan program going strong.

“We have a lot of shoes to fill, last year was insane,” said Pine. “It was crazy. We did so well, we improved so much. I know we’re going to keep working hard and fight to keep that title.”

ROSTER

Natalie Williams

Lauren Ridall

Chloe Swain

Kylee Roy

Jenifer King

Taylor Williams

Camille McRoberts

Taralynn Barrett

MaKenna Matthews

Elaina Preito

Sam Brackman

Madelyn Seeley

Sadie Renzo

Peyton Walker

Brooklyn Wetzel

Delaney Borek

Caelyn Pine

Emma McGhee

Kylie Luner

Addison Parker

Madison Palmer

Ella Lawton

Alexis McRoberts

Morgan Roy

SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 - Jersey Shore at Troy, 2 p.m.

Aug. 29 - Troy at Muncy, 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 - Troy at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Sep. 1 - NEB at Troy, 4 p.m.

Sep. 3 - Troy at NEB Tournament

Sep. 7 - Troy at Hughesville, 7 p.m.

Sep. 8 - Troy at Jersey Shore, 5 p.m.

Sep. 10 - Troy at Wellsboro, 10 a.m.

Sep. 13 - Wyalusing at Troy, 4 p.m.

Sep. 15 - Troy at Athens, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 20 - Towanda at Troy, 4 p.m.

Sep. 22 - NPM at Troy, 4 p.m.

Sep. 27 - Troy at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 29 - Athens at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 - Williamson at Troy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Towanda at Troy, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12 - Troy at Wyalusing, 4 p.m.