Troy Field Hockey: First Regional Title Since 2017

Troy field hockey has ended a two-year drought in the Division 1 regional finals.

The top-ranked Colts defeated Utica Eisenhower 2-0 on Thursday at Rochester Stoney Creek. This victory marks Troy's first regional championship since 2017. The team had lost the same round in 2024 and 2025. Those losses came against Rochester Adams and Troy Athens, respectively.

Cole Cusmano, a three-year starter for the Colts, noted the team's persistence. “We’re just enjoying it and taking it one game at a time,” Cusmano said. “It’s just all of the hard work we’ve put into it all season. And we’re starting to see it pay off now. We know what its like to be here and not win. That happened (to us) the past two years.”

The Colts built their lead through two distinct plays. With 18:01 remaining in the first half, senior Ryan Wind delivered a corner kick into the defensive circle. Cusmano poked the loose ball into the corner of the goal for the opener. Troy extended its lead with 35:17 left in the game. A clearance attempt from Eisenhower deflected backward into open space. Sophomore Connor Hotts intercepted the ball and shot it into the bank for the second goal.

Defense remained the foundation of Troy's strategy. The team allowed just 0.58 goals per game over 19 contests. That record includes 10 shutouts. Junior Will Horvath secured a clean sheet in the final. Senior Blake Kuiper anchored the back line by preventing shots on goal. Coach Adam Spinks credited the returning back line for the team's stability. “We build from the back and get the ball up to the (attack),” Cusmano said. “We brought back most of our back line from last year and they deserve a lot of credit.”

Eisenhower finished the regular season with a 15-3-3 record. However, several wins and draws were nullified due to forfeits resulting from the use of an ineligible player. Despite the irregular season, the Eagles reached the regional finals for the first time in 20 years. The team had one goal disallowed in the first half for an offside position. Senior Vincent Pelle also struck the outside of the left goal post in a late attempt to narrow the gap.

The shooting statistics were close. Troy outshot Eisenhower 9-8. The Colts recorded five shots on goal compared to none for the Eagles. Troy also secured two corner kicks to Eisenhower's one. Eisenhower coach Mehrdad Nekoogar acknowledged Troy's physicality and direct style of play. “Troy is a very talented team. They’re big and they play direct. They are undefeated for a reason,” Nekoogar said.

Nekoogar highlighted two specific moments that could have altered the outcome. The disallowed goal and the shot that hit the post both came close. “If either of those were a goal, then this game might have gone a little different,” he said. The Eagles have won three MAC Red titles in the last four years, though they had to return this year's title due to the forfeits. This was the first group Nekoogar has coached through all four high school years.

Troy enters the state semifinals as the top seed. The team has outscored its four postseason opponents 15-4. The Colts will face sixth-ranked Salem on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Troy Athens. The team remains undefeated in the postseason with a 17-0-2 overall record.