MOBILE, Alabama – Troy junior midfielder Alissa Jones received a pass near midfield in the second half, split three defenders and powered a shot past the keeper as the Trojans knocked off UL Lafayette 1-0 on Wednesday in the opening round of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship in Mobile.

For Jones, a first team All-Sun Belt selection, it was her 12th goal of the season. She is now two shy of Jill Pinder’s record mark of 14 in 2008.

The result marks the first ever victory in the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship for the Trojans. Troy entered the game 0-6 in the postseason event.

“We played much better in the second half, I think we got 17 shots off. If you get 17 shots in a half, you have a good chance to win the game,” Trojan head coach Jason Hamilton said.

The Trojans were forced to defend for the majority of the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Mikki Lewis kept the game scoreless with a fantastic, full extension save in the 23rd minute. Lewis finished the game with five saves en route to recording her 10th shutout of the season. As a team, Troy leads the league with 12 shutouts.
  
Troy took 24 shots in the match compared to UL Lafayette’s 12. The Trojans were called offside 11 times, thwarting several attacks.

Troy will face Texas State at 4 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Nov. 7 in the first semifinal match. The Bobcats defeated Troy 2-0 in San Marcos, Texas, on Oct. 12.