Troy dominates Lake Orion for fifth straight win
BY JAKE LOURIM
STUDENT CORRESPONDENT
TROY — Troy coach Brian Zawislak decided to dial up the pressure in the Troy-Lake Orion soccer game Tuesday.
The Dragons, like every other opponent who has been suffocated by the Colts’ tenacious attack, folded. Juniors Aaron Faison and Luke Ridenour each put in their first goals of the season, and sophomore Jacob Meissner added a late tally as Troy routed Lake Orion, 4-0, in OAA Red Division play.
Troy (5-0, 2-0 OAA Red) misfired on a couple of opportunities early, but as teams like Romeo and Walled Lake Northern discovered, the Colts will only do that for so long.
In the 21st minute, Faison struck a ball off a Lake Orion defender and into the goal. Shortly after that, senior Jason Leslie used a short free kick to dish a pass into the box for Ridenour, who shot one off the goalie, got his own rebound, and scored.
“We talked about at halftime, trying to keep shots on frame,” Zawislak said. “The couple that we kept on frame, they didn’t exactly blast off the back of the net, but they were behind the goal line.”
A lead like that is almost always safe with Troy goalies in net. Also, the defenders were stifling on the back line, playing physical in maintaining possession and preventing any Dragons from getting through.
“We were very poised on the ball — we didn’t get rattled,” Zawislak said. “We didn’t really give them much time on the ball, and our midfield really did a good job cleaning up the first and second balls.
“Our philosophy is, as soon as we lose the ball, how quickly can we get it back. I think we did a good job pursuing the ball, even in our own attacking third.”
Just five minutes into the second half, Troy struck again.
Sophomore defender Allen Wang sent a ball downfield for Ian Fox, who poked it past the goalie for his second goal of the year.
Of course, Wang and the back line were also busy frustrating Lake Orion forwards.
“I really liked the way our defenders read the game really well. When they saw the ball coming in towards a target, they did a nice job of denying that ball and never really gave Lake Orion many chances.”
In the 73rd minute, sophomore Jacob Meissner came on for his third goal of the season, tying the team lead. Jacob Houhanisin chased down a ball on the left side, but when the Lake Orion goalie came to get it, he found himself outside the box. Houhanisin played keep- away with the keeper, then fed Meissner for a perfect driving strike.
“I liked the way (Meissner) played in tryouts, and one of the questions with him is, he makes good decisions, can he finish?” Zawislak said. “He’s proven us wrong so far. He’s been a really pleasant surprise.”
(Jake Lourim is part of the AdaVan Media Group / www.northoaklandsports.com Student Intern Program. He can be reached at j.lourim@comcast.net)
Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Prep Wraps, Troy
