Troy's women's soccer team opened its season with a 2-0 loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, slipping to 0-1 in the early campaign.
A Dominant Second Half
The Blue Raiders controlled possession, outshooting the Trojans 16-4, including seven shots on target versus just one for Troy. After a goalless first half, Middle Tennessee broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Ania Denham curled a free-kick into the net, and added a second in the 79th minute after Hannah Murphy converted a penalty.
In goal, Taylor Richards made her first save of the year, a modest highlight for a keeper who finished the previous season atop the Sun Belt with 66 stops. The defensive effort was further tested by the relentless pressure from the Raiders.
Debuts and Streaks
The match also marked a milestone for Isabella Hartofelis, who featured for the full 90 minutes, extending her streak of consecutive appearances to 18 games. The lineup also saw five newcomers make their collegiate debuts — Aiden Bailey, Isla Boyle, Braelyn Carey, Hannah Kent and Irene Torres — while Demi Gronauer continued to be a regular presence.
Head Coach Jake Wyman praised the team's effort but noted that Middle Tennessee capitalized on set-piece situations, a point he hopes to address before the next contest.
Troy will look to rebound when it travels to face Southeastern Louisiana on August 20, a game that will be streamed live on ESPN+.