Troy soccer fights for a draw in a six-goal stunner against Alcorn
The Trojans tied Alcorn State University 3-3 in the last game of their three-match homestead at the Trojan Soccer Complex on Sunday.
Troy dedicated this match to the passing of former assistant coach Kayla Saager. Assistant coach Saager coached from 2020 to 2023 for the Trojans.
“That was a tricky match for sure,” said head coach Jake Wyman. “I thought the girls battled for 90 minutes once again.
“We went down 1-0, came back, conceded again, equalized and eventually came back and tied the game at the end. I think the girls deserve a lot of credit for how they hung in there.”
Troy equalized three different times during the match, with Irene Torres scoring a brace and Alaina Uncapher scoring from a penalty kick. Torres’ brace also became her first two goals in collegiate soccer and for the Trojans. The Braves outshot Troy 31-9 during the match, but Taylor Richards made eight crucial saves to keep Troy in the match.
The Trojans had a rough start at kickoff, struggling with possession, which would stay consistent throughout the match. In the 18th minute, Alcorn State would capitalize from this with a set piece when the ball came loose and was hammered into the back of the net.
The Trojans would find a break five minutes later from a goal from Torres. Madisyn Marchesi would curl a free kick towards the goal, where Uncapher would head it towards goal. As the ball made its way along the goal line, Torres would be there for insurance as she headed it in to tie up the game.
Even with the goal, Troy would still struggle offensively and came out of the half facing a 2-1 deficit after the Braves went one up in the 34th minute. One of the Braves’ strikers would dribble their way to the penalty kick line and place their shot under the right arm of Richards.
Going into the second half, Troy would find its equalizer after a one-two with Torres and Uncapher would give Torres a breakaway. Alcorn State’s goalie would come out, and Torres would dribble past and finish to make it 2-2.
“She’s been working her butt off," Wyman said. “She won the penalty at the end and she’s just been fantastic.
“We got to get her closer to goal. We got to get her the ball a little bit more. She’s good with both feet, so you know I'm delighted for that kid because she’s been working so hard.”
It would only be two minutes later that Alcorn State would take the lead once again as Annick Zouma would blast a left-footed shot into the back of the net. Alcorn State continued its dominance, but Troy got a huge break in the 87th minute.
Troy would win a corner. As the ball was played in, it would take a deflection into the air, and Torres would be fouled inside the box. After a VAR inspection, Troy would be awarded the penalty that Uncapher shot and score for the last goal of the game.
Troy is now 1-5-2 overall as they go ahead to take on in-state rival South Alabama on Sept. 17 in Mobile, Alabama. Kickoff will start at 7 p.m. at The Cage.
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