TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The Trojan soccer team fell 2-1 to the Thundering Herd on Thursday at the Troy Soccer Complex.

On paper, the Trojans did better than Marshall, putting up 17 shots compared to Marshall’s 15. Troy also played down a player in the 35th minute after a slide tackle from Troy was deemed malicious. 

“Tough one for us tonight,” said head coach Jake Wyman. “I thought that we were the better team. I thought we were able to get at them in the first half and create a few good chances.

“We obviously didn’t capitalize on those chances early, but I thought we limited them to shots from distance in the first half. When you get the red card it changes the landscape of the game. I’m proud of the girls’ efforts, but I’m disappointed in the result.” 

Even while being down a player, Troy was able to hold the Thundering Herd for over 30 minutes before they scored. Troy even scored themselves while down a player thanks to Braelyn Carey, putting up her first collegiate goal ever. The Freshmen was subbed on and immediately impacted play, and a deflection off a cross would give her the goal. 

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“I’m excited for Braelyn,” Wyman said. “She’s been working and I know she scored a she had a brace in the preseason game.

“I think she’s another one that has worked so hard and for her to finish that and get back, I think it says a lot about her.”

At kickoff, Troy performed phenomenally, applying pressure quickly and putting up multiple shots on goal. The biggest chance would come from Layla Juliano, who had a chance to shoot at the top of the 18 yard box, where she would curl it and almost find its way past the keeper. 

That momentum of constant pressure would come to an end after a Trojan was issued a red card for a slide tackle on a player. Marshall started to pick up the pace, but the Trojans kept up, putting up more shots on goal. 

Troy’s next big chance would come from a Cross in from Brooke Slater. The ball would curl out towards the top of the 6 and multiple Trojans would get a foot to it, but the ball would ping pong back and forth between Troy and Marshall’s players. The last bounce would send it towards the Herds keeper, and saving off her leg was all it took for Marshall to clear it back out. 

Possession kept being turned over to Marshall, but Troy would hold out for the rest of the first half and close out halftime 0-0. 

In the second half, Troy kept the pressure up but a slip in judgement was all it took for Marshall to find the back of the net halfway into the second half. The Herd would play off of that pressure and score again in the 70th minute to put them up by two. 

Troy retaliated quickly when Carey would find the back of the net after a ball from Slater would land at her feet for a tap in. Troy would continue its pressure but the final whistle would blow and the Trojans would lose 2-1.