NTL GIRLS' SOCCER: TROY LOOKS TO KEEP SUCCESS GOING IN 2024 (2024-08-20)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The Troy girls’ soccer team comes into the 2024 season the NTL champions four years running, and that’s put a big target on their back for the rest of the league. However, they’re as optimistic as ever about winning a fifth straight title this season.

“I’m just so excited for what all we’re going to accomplish this year,” Saydi Renzo said. “How much of a team we’re going to be, and just how built we’re going to be.”

They said good-bye to their leading goal scorer, along with several key players, but are excited for this crop of freshmen coming up.

“We’ve got lots of great freshmen coming in,” remarked Alexis McRoberts. “Mallory Chamberlain is definitely one of the ones that we’re looking forward to seeing on the field, as well as Kyah Renzo. They’ve been coming all summer, they’ve been working hard, so I’m excited to see what they can do this season.”

They can’t wait to mix them with key returnees Saydi Renzi, McRoberts, and Madi Palmer.

“It’s a blessing,” coach Wayne Pratt said. “Not only are they awesome individuals off the field, but they bring that in their leadership on the field. It really makes coaching this group of girls a blessing.”

For the third year in a row Palmer will be running the defense, and will be breaking in a new backline.

“It’s something I take a lot of pride in,” she said. “I’m very proud of myself. I worked hard to get there, and I know my team has worked hard to work alongside me, and we work really well together.”

In front of her will be McRoberts, marking up the other team’s best player and causing havoc with that big leg of hers.

“It’s a great role to play on this team,” she said about being defensive mid. “I have a great time playing on defense, but then I can also go up on offense and help there.”

Center midfield Renzo will be upfront alongside fellow returnee, Giana Renzi, as they look to make up for the loss of goal scorer Addy Parker.

“It’s a strong position,” Renzo said about being center mid. “You deliver a lot of balls and you make plays happen, but you also make plays happen yourself by scoring.”

McRoberts feels that core of Palmer, herself, and Renzo manning the middle of the field will be tough to beat this season.

“We get a long well and we play well together,” she said. “I think we’ll just bring the freshmen into that, and it will be a great season.”

Pratt sees them as a more ball control team than in the past, complimenting the work they’ve put in during the off season.

“We want to put pressure on the ball, but the thing we’re blessed with this year is the fact that we have girls that have better touches than even what we had last year,” he said. “I’m looking forward to just watching them execute better than what we have in the past.”

They’re hoping that all adds up to another dominant league season, though they know they’ll be getting everybody’s best.

“It’s kind of nerve wracking, but at the same time, it’s really fun,” McRoberts said about being on top. “We get to go into every game playing our hardest, and knowing that everybody’s going to come and try and beat us.”

The group also has a chip on their shoulder from the end of last year, when they lost in the first round of districts on their home field.

“A loss is always a motivation,” said Palmer.

Getting that elusive district win is high on their list of goals.

“We’re hoping so,” said McRoberts. “I think we have a great opportunity to be able to do that.”

ROSTER

Claire Bailey

Giana Renzi

Kylie Roy

Stella Rockwell

Hailey Davies-Grove

Saydi Renzo

Kyah Renzo

Jaylee Ward

Rachel Hinkle

Andrea Blanco

Aubrey Taylor

Chelsey Parks

Hailey Larsen

Raelyn Woodward

Braylynn Schaeffer

Mallory Chamberlin

Parker Lee

Elaine Preito

Madelyn Seeley

Camdyn Rogers

Ella Lawton

Isabella Prieto

Maddyson Muir

Madi Palmer

Alexis McRoberts

Emma McKinley

SCHEDULE

Aug. 24 at Loyalsock, 11 a.m.

Aug. 26 vs Muncy, 4 p.m.

Aug. 27 vs Towanda, 4 p.m.

Aug. 29 at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Aug. 31 at Montoursville Tournament

Sep. 4 vs Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

Sep. 7 at Wyalusing, 10 a.m.

Sep. 11 at Athens, 4 p.m.

Sep. 17 at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 19 at NPM, 4 p.m.

Sep. 24 vs Williamson, 4 p.m.

Sep. 26 vs Athens, 4 p.m.

Sep. 28 vs Shikellamy, 1 p.m.

Oct. 1 at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 vs NEB, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 at Jersey Shore, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs Wyalusing, 4 p.m.

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