By Sean Holohan

The Troy 18-under recreation soccer team placed third in the ARPA State Tournament last weekend in Opelika, finishing 2-2 in their bracket, which concluded on Sunday.

On Saturday, the team lost their opening match to Sylacauga in a shootout, 3-2.

But later in the day they rebounded, defeating Prattville 5-1.

The team carried momentum into Sunday as they beat Eufaula 3-1 in the first game of the day to set themselves up for a first place finish.

But in their final match against host team Opelika, they lost 1-0 when a controversial decision wiped out what would have been a tying goal late in the match.

Troy striker Baylor Barnes put the ball in the back of the net off of a free kick in front of the Opelika goal, but it was disallowed and Opelika was awarded a goal kick.

“We had a really strong team and we were just one goal and one penalty kick away from winning it all,” head coach Doug McLendon said.

This year’s team was special for the players involved, as many of the teams’ members had won state championships in their previous stints in recreation soccer at younger age divisions.

The team was presented with the Sportsmanship Trophy at the 2014 ARPA State Tournament for finishing in third place.

“I’m really proud of the way the team handled itself, not only in the tournament but in everything we did,” McLendon said. “They (the team) represented Troy extremely well. They fought valiantly. When the chips were down, they never gave up.”