NTL GIRLS' SOCCER: TROY FALLS TO MIDD-WEST (2023-10-25)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportEAST TROY — A combination of defensive breakdowns and several missed opportunities cost Troy girls’ soccer in their 3-1 loss to Midd-West during District IV, Class AA first round action Wednesday.
Alexis McRoberts gave the Trojans an early 1-0 lead but Midd-West got two goals off corner kicks, and one on a failed defensive clear to take the lead. At the other end six times the Lady Trojans got behind the Mustang defenders only to come up empty handed.
Sammy Landis, Claire Steininger, and Rachel Keister had the three Midd-West goals.
Just under two minutes into the contest McRoberts found the back corner of the frame from 25-yards out to put the Trojans up 1-0.
The Trojans had another good chance on a corner kick 10 minutes later, but couldn’t get a foot on the ball before Midd-West cleared.
With 25:00 left in the half a Midd-West free kick into the box ended up in the hands of Trojan keeper Maddy Seeley.
The Mustangs’ best chance to score so far came on a corner kick that saw Seeley go down after making a save. Troy’s defenders, though, cleared it before Midd-West could get a foot on it.
At the 18:50 a long Midd-West shot ricocheted off the bar.
On the counter Addi Parker had a nice give-and-go with Saydi Renzo to get behind the defense, but couldn’t get the shot off as the Midd-West keeper Cali Sauer, came out to contest.
On the same possession Sauer then stopped a low Parker shot.
With 11:10 left in the half a McRoberts free kick found the head of Renzo, but Sauer came up with the stop.
Midd-West got in a deep cross with 7:20 to play but Seeley snatched it out of the air. On Troy’s next possession a long McRoberts shot was just wide of the frame.
With 2:30 left to play in the half a Midd-West shot rebounded off Seeley, but Troy’s Madi Palmer beat the Mustangs to the ball to clear it.
However, with 1:47 on the clock a Midd-West corner bounced around in the box, and ended up on the foot of Keister, who put in the next to knot things up at 1-1 at the half.
Troy nearly retook the lead early 20 seconds into the second half as Parker found Renzo deep, but Renzo just missed the touch to put it in the net.
Midd-West almost took the lead with 32:50 on the clock as Seeley saved a shot off the cross-bar, and the Trojan defenders were able to clear.
However, with 31:16 left the Mustangs took the lead as Seeley came out to clear a through ball, but Steininger blocked the kick, with it bouncing into the goal for the 2-1 lead.
Two minutes later Troy nearly leveled things up as Parker got behind the defense on a give-and-go with Renzo, but her shot was wide of the frame.
Four minutes after that Parker got an open shot from inside the penalty box, but her attempt just missed the far corner.
With 25 minutes left to play a Stella Rockwell cross into the box appeared to be scooped up by Sauer, but Renzo beat her to the ball. She got a touch around her, but couldn’t get a clean enough second touch to get her shot on goal.
The prettiest play of the day from the Trojans came halfway through the second half. A long McRoberts goal kick was one touched by Renzo past the Midd-West defense to a streaking Parker, but her shot was once again just high.
Midd-West tightened their back third after that, with Troy’s final best chance a through ball to McRoberts, but Sauer beat her to it, clearing it safely away.
With 7:49 left to play Landis sealed it for Midd-West by scoring off a corner kick.
Midd-West out shot Troy 17-12, and had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
The Trojans end the year 13-5-1.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Troy’s Alexis McRoberts uses her body to control the ball…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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