Red-hot Troy downs Clarkston for sixth straight win
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — Unlike in recent years, Troy High lacks a bona fide star out on the soccer pitch. The equation has worked just fine for the Colts.
For the third straight season, Troy is off to a 6-0-0 start, including 3-0-0 in the OAA Red Division. The Colts upended Clarkston, 1-0, in a key league match on Tuesday, handing the Wolves their first league loss of the season.
“As a staff, we were talking the other day about how we don’t have that one star to go to,” said first-year head coach Brian Zawislak, who coached the junior varsity the past few years and is the Troy head girls soccer coach. “We do have some very good balance. Everyone is playing their roles.”
Troy, which has not surrendered a goal in conference play this season, blanked Clarkston behind another stingy defensive effort. The Colts picked up a late goal from Jason Leslie, who netted the game-winner in the 74th minute.
LOOKING UPFIELD: Troy junior Ian Fox and the Colts have dominated on the field this season, cruising to a 6-0-0 start. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
Junior goalkeeper Matt Smolinski, who earned All-State Second Team status last season, has teamed up with Craig Duggan, to pitch five shutouts. Smolinski netted the clean sheet against Clarkston.
“We have a really good goalie, but we also have our back-up who would start at a lot of schools in the area,” noted Zawislak, who inherits a team that returns six starters and 11 total players. He brings some very good competitive spirit to practice, pushes (Smolinski). We’re blessed to have some very good goalkeeping.”
Troy has produced All-State Dream Team players the past two years, including Nathan Hicklin (2009) and Sean Cunningham (2009 and 2010). Cunningham is now playing in Europe.
This year, there are not any field players that will earn those type of accolades. The Colts do have talent and depth at every position, with no glaring weaknesses three weeks into the season.
Senior David Eicher and junior Luke Ridenhour have anchored the backline for Troy, which has yielded only a first-half penalty-kick goal in a 6-1 victory over Walled Lake Northern two weeks ago. Freshman Willie Maddox has also become a pleasant surprise for Troy on the backline.
Leslie and Zach Doepke, a pair of all-league players last season, have teamed up with Jake Meissner to lead the scoring punch. Each has three goals this season, with Meissner coming off the bench.
“Offensively, we have had some nice balance. We have three guys with three goals, so teams can’t just key on marking one guy,” said Zawislak. “Meissner has been key for us off the bench. It’s always nice to be able to bring that type of player off the bench.”
MAKING THE HEADS UP PLAY: Troy's Luke Ridenour has beeen solid on the Colts' back line this season, a unit that has surrendered only one goal in six games. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
Troy will visit Troy Athens for its annual rivalry game Thursday.
“We have that tough stretch now. We have Athens Thursday, with Rochester Adams next week,” noted Zawislak. “We have a tough stretch coming up. We’ll see what we are made of these next few games.”
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Category: Clarkston, High School, Troy
