Tide downs Troy soccer with late goal

A penalty kick in the 90th minute gave Alabama the 2-1 edge over Troy soccer in an exhibition match at Orange Beach Sportsplex on Sunday, Aug. 14.

After 61 minutes, the score was still tied at zero. The Crimson Tide’s Lacey Clarida then headed home a corner from Christina Martensson, breaking the deadlock.

Troy equalized but was unable to keep the home team from stealing the win late.

“Alabama was the better team,” head coach Jason Hamilton said. “You can tell their group took advantage of having a game on Thursday and fixed some small things.”

Junior goalkeeper Mikki Lewis of St. John’s, Florida, put up a clean performance in the first half before being substituted. Alabama took advantage of the change, ramping up its shots from five in the first half to 14 in the second.

The Trojans managed two shots in the first half and doubled that in the second.

“It was good for our group to get to play against an opponent, especially one as quality as Alabama,” Hamilton said. “The disappointing part is to give up two goals on set pieces, which we put such a big emphasis on. To have a penalty kick called in the last minute really felt like the game was taken out of the players’ hands.”

Troy tied the match with a free kick from senior midfielder Nicole Harris. The ball crossed into the box and found sophomore forward Brooke McKee, who headed the ball home in the 89th minute.

Despite tying the game with just seconds left in the match, the Tide sealed the victory with a penalty kick. Bama sent the Trojans home to prepare for two road games to open the regular season, beginning with Gardner-Webb on Friday, Aug. 19.