Aug. 30, 2009

Box Score

THIBODAUX - After a scoreless first half, the Nicholls State University soccer team (1-2-0) scored twice in the second. Unfortunately for the Colonels, so did the Troy University Trojans (3-0-0) who forced the game into a pair of overtimes before the Trojans headed in a rebound in the final minute of the second extra period to hand the Colonels a hard-fought 3-2 loss on Sunday.

The loss drops the Colonels to 1-2-0 while the Trojans remain undefeated after opening the season with wins against Alabama A&M and at Southeastern Louisiana.

Neither side could break through in the first. The Colonel defense kept the Trojan offense at bay, forcing all five of Troy's first half shots off target. However, the Trojan defense was also up to the task, as Nicholls tallied four first-half shots while coming up empty-handed.

Junior forward Kaity Mattsson finally broke the scoreless tie just 30 seconds into the second half. The Bracebridge, Ontario native took a feed from classmate Carolyn Noble before chipping one over Troy goalkeeper Ashley Branham, who was sliding to break up the play, and into the open net for a 1-0 Colonel lead.

However, the Trojans struck 11 minutes later as Nicholls was called for an inadvertent handball in its own box. The resulting penalty kick saw Bridget Duke net her second goal of the season.

The Colonels reclaimed a one-goal advantage as sophomore midfielder Sam Etherington set up for a free kick near midfield. Sophomore defender Keisha Brown headed it past the Trojan defense before Noble dove in to knock in her first goal of the season to put Nicholls out in front with just 12 minutes to play.

Unfortunately, the Trojans would not go quietly, as Troy swarmed the Nicholls box in the final minutes before knocking in the tying goal with six minutes remain to send the game into overtime.

Neither side could break through in the first ten minute period, and, after the first nine minutes of the second overtime it looked like both sides were in for their first ties of the season.

However, Troy's April Madden headed in the sudden death goal through traffic with just 47 seconds remaining to give the Trojans the 3-2 win.

The Colonels will return to action when they wrap up their longest homestand of the season on Sept. 4 by hosting Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the NSU Soccer Complex. Admission is free to all Nicholls students with a valid ID and all children age five and under.