On Saturday, Troy United returned home for their final game of the 2023 MWPL season to face off against Tulip City United. With this being the last game for both Troy and Tulip City, they would both want to end their seasons with three points.
Tulip City started the game on the front foot with a few attacking opportunities within the first 10 minutes. Thad Petty's key saves kept the game at 0-0.
It was an 11th-minute shot from 25 yards out that dribbled into the back of the net, as miscommunication led to Petty watching the ball roll into the net. Tulip City had a 1-0 lead early on in the game.
Nathan Boos had two opportunities on net, one in the 15th minute and one in the 23rd, but the Tulip City keeper made saves on both shots.
After a Tulip City turnover in the 30th minute, Brayden Stavros crossed the ball to Caleb Dupree, who went on the attack and shot the ball past the keeper. Troy United tied up the game with one goal for each side.
Only five minutes later, another Tulip City turnover ended up with Boos getting the ball and passing a beautiful ball to Jacob Lee, who chipped it over the Tulip City keeper and gave Troy a 2-1 lead.
Tulip City had their own response to these goals, as in the 45th minute, a shot from a very tight angle just snuck past Petty, and it was once again a tie game.
But Tulip City wasn’t done yet. Not even three minutes later, Tulip City came down the field on the attack and put the ball in the net on the last kick of the half. Both teams would head to the locker room with Tulip City leading 3-2.
Troy United would get things back underway for the final half of the season, trying to find an equalizer. But this half turned into a defensive chess match, with neither team getting any real opportunities for most of the half. Both teams looked worn out from an entire season of work and just wanted to play out the final 45 minutes.
An 80th-minute Tulip City foul in the box gave Troy a penalty shot and a chance to tie up the game. The penalty was taken after a conversation with the referee, and the Tulip City keeper saved it. On that save, the ball ended up on a counter attacking opportunity for Tulip City that ended up in the back of the net to give Tulip City a 4-2 lead.
In the 85th minute, Joshua Reyes took a shot from about 25 yards out to test the keeper, but to everybody's surprise, the ball bounced off the goalkeeper's hands and into the back of the net. Troy United once again had a life with just under five minutes remaining.
A 90th-minute goal from Tulip City ended any hope of a Troy comeback. The referee blew the full-time whistle a few minutes later, and Tulip City would walk away with the three points in a 5-3 victory.
With that, Troy United’s inaugural season in the MWPL came to an end with a record of five wins, one draw, and six losses.
The club sends a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported the club throughout the season. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
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