Tough cube to solve: Top-ranked Colts stymie rival Athens
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY— Solving Troy’s defense is like trying to solve the Rubix Cube. It’s always a tough nut to crack.
Troy Athens became the latest victim to learn that reality Thursday.
Troy picked up a goal in the 63rd minute and the defense did its part, as the Division 1 top-ranked Colts stymied host Athens 1-0 in an OAA Red Division boys soccer contest.
Troy (7-0-0, 3-0-0) has yielded only one goal in seven matches and yet to surrender a goal in the regular flow of the game. The Colts have only given up a first-half penalty kick goal to the Walled Lake Northern in a contest two weeks ago and has now outscored the opposition 17-1, including 13-0 in the second half this season.
“Our backline is playing with a lot of confidence,” beamed Troy coach Brian Zawislak. “(Goalkeeper) Matt (Smolinski) is playing with so much confidence. They are really on the same page back there.
It was the second straight 1-0 league win. Troy defeated Clarkston 1-0 on Tuesday.
“Tonight’s game could have really went either way. Both of those games could have gone either way,” admitted Zawislak. “A bounce here, a bounce there. But when you get results it’s a lot more fun.”
Junior Matt Smolinski, a returning All-State Second team goalkeeper last season, picked up the team’s sixth shutout on two saves.
“We returned the same defense as last year. We are all just very familiar with one another,” said Smolinski. “This is one of the best teams I’ve played on and I’ve played on some very high (club academy team) and I played (over the summer) on a team in Germany. This is as good as any of the defenses that I’ve played with.”
Troy outshot 8-5 for the contest, including 5-2 with shots directly on frame. Athens (2-3-0, 1-1-0) did have two quality chances in the first half but could not place those on net.
Junior Max Klitzke did get in behind the Troy defense seven minutes into the game but misfired his breakaway attempt. Klitzke also shanked a shot off the outside of the left goal post with 3:19 left in the first half.
“They’re a good team,” said first-year Athens coach Todd Heugh of Troy. “They have a lot of good players to go with some excellent goalkeeping. I thought at times we were able to break them down. I thought that we definitely had our fair share of chances tonight. You have to tip they’re hats off not to just their back line but you have to give credit to their team defending and their goalkeeping. They are tough to break down.”
Troy finally netted the game’s only goal with 17:40 left in the contest. Senior Mitchell Judy broke free down the right sideline and curled a cross into the box. Sophomore Jacob Meissner was on the receiving end and he laced a shot from 10 yards out that skimmed off an Athens defender’s leg and into the corner of the goal.
It was Meissner’s team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Despite its fast start, the season is far from over and Smolinski has addressed that to his teammates.
“We’re only a third of the way through the season and we want to be state champs,” said Smolinski, who has been part of two league and district championship teams. “This is nothing to be proud of just yet. We haven’t won anything yet.”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy, Troy Athens
