NTL GIRLS' SOCCER: TROY TOPS ATHENS, CLAIMS 5TH STRAIGHT LEAGUE TITLE (2024-10-14)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportEAST TROY — Athens didn’t make it easy but Troy ultimately prevailed, 2-1, in NTL girls’ soccer action Monday to claim their fifth straight NTL title.
“It’s an amazing feeling just to hold up the legacy that Troy has here,” said Troy’s Alexis McRoberts. “We hope to continue to do that, and even after we leave, we hope these girls can keep that here.”
It was the toughest test Troy faced from a league opponent as Athens was the first team to score a goal on the Trojans on their home field this season. They took a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes in off a goal by Abby Burgess, but back to back goals from Giana Renzi and Kylee Roy saw Troy take a 2-1 lead at the half.
That scored held through the second half, but the Wildcats nearly tied it up with just over 10 minutes left to play. DaLanie Patton had a penalty kick, but Troy keeper Madelyn Seeley came up with the big save to preserve the lead, the win, and the title.
“It’s crazy,” the senior Seeley said. “I’ve been goalie for four years, and just keeping the title is insane.”
Athens’ speed up front gave Troy some trouble, especially Burgess, while the Athens defense did a good job clogging up the box.
“Coming into this game we had one thing on our mind, and that was really just to put up a good showing,” said Troy coach Wayne Pratt. “We wanted to take care of business here on our home field. We had all our fans and everything here. Athens scored right toff the bat, got a quick goal on us, but we didn’t crack under the pressure, came back, scored a couple, and the second half was just two great teams battling it out in the middle of the field. It was a great game for the girls, for both teams.”
Troy’s midfield of McRoberts, Roy, Saydi Renzo, and Kyah Renzo did a good job on their Athens counterparts, while Renzi was battling in the opposing box most of the night. That’s how Troy out shot Athens 27-5, and had a 9-2 edge in corner kicks.
“I was just like we need to keep pushing,” Renzo said. “I know we had the game, I know that if we just kept working we were going to get it, and the penalty kick save, that just was just awesome.”
Athens got the scoring started when Patton took a shot off a breakaway. Seeley deflected it out but right to Burgess on the backside, who knocked it in for the 1-0 lead with 30:12 on the clock.
“I was upset,” Seeley said about giving up their first goal at home. “But you just have to trust that your team will have your back, and fight for you, and keep going.”
Troy’s Kylee Roy got a clean shot at the keeper five six minutes later but Athens’ Carmelita Pomaquiza made the save.
However, just after the halfway point of the first half Pomaquiza fumbled the ball in front of the box. Renzi was right place, right time, and kicked it in the open net to tie up the game 1-1 with 18:55 on the clock.
“She tried to pick it up, and the coaches always tell me to crash, crash, crash,” explained Renzi. “There’s always a chance I can get a goal, so that’s what I did. I crashed, I put my foot on the ball, and it just went in.”
That was a bit of a momentum changer for the Trojans.
“We were tied, so it was like a 0-0 game,” Renzi remarked. “It definitely got all of our energy up, and we realized we’re still in it.”
Five minutes later McRoberts fired off a shot at Pomaquiza, who saved it.
However, with just under 10 minutes left Roy put in a corner kick close to the net. Back-up keeper Anika Lezak tried to knock it away, but the ball spun off her hand and into the goal for a 2-1 Troy lead.
“We knew coming into this Athens has an amazing team, and we had to fight the whole way through,” McRoberts said. “So just to poke another one in, and take the lead, was an amazing feeling.”
The Wildcats had a good chance to tie it up with just under seven minutes left in the half. Patton got the ball on a breakaway, and got a pass off to Burgess, but her touch was deflected outside the post.
Early in the second half Seeley was out of the net, but Burgess’s shot went wide.
Troy had some forays into the Athens box for much of the second half, but the Wildcat defense held.
With 11:38 on the clock a through ball to Burgess saw her taken down in the box. A penalty kick was called, but Patton’s attempt was right at Seeley, who reacted quick enough to deflect the ball out of the goalie box, and down the line away from danger.
“I was just, I’ve got to stop it,” Seeley said. “I can’t let it be overtime, and I’ve just got to keep fighting.”
The Wildcats also had a free kick opportunity just outside the penalty box with 4:50 on the clock, but Lizzie Gorsline’s attempt was just wide.
In 2020 Troy shared the league title with Athens and Wellsboro, but have won it outright since. Now they’ll look to finish the league season undefeated when they travel to Athens on Wednesday.
“I just want to perfect our touches, our first touch, our first touches towards the goal,” Renzo said about what they’re going to work on. “More communication and movement, and just more shots on frame, and just finishing the easy goals.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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