BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Troy University soccer team battled their way through the Sun Belt Conference all season, and they will look to continue that battle this afternoon against second-seeded University of Denver in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Trojans return to the tournament for the first time since the 2005 season, a season in which they lost to Middle Tennessee in double overtime in the quarterfinals.

Throughout this season, the Trojans have set the bar high for next season breaking several records including the most wins ever in the Sun Belt Conference by a Trojan soccer team.  Freshman Nikki Stamaris also tied the new single-season record for assists with seven, tying an eight-year old record.  Sophomore Ashley Branham continued her hot streak in goal this season, recording five shutouts to push her career total to 12 - a new school record.  The previous record was 11, which was set by Laura Longard in 2005.  Branham also set a new goals against average this season, breaking her own record from last season, with a 0.95 goals against average in 2009 - allowing just 18 goals in 19 games all season.

Bridget Duke and Mary Morris pace the Trojans this season on the pitch with seven and six goals, respectively.

The Pioneers and Troy met earlier this season, and have met five times throughout the history of Troy soccer; with Denver winning all five of those matches.  The last two matches, Denver has won by just one goal in each match - one at Troy and one at Denver - while the previous three matches were a combined 17-1.

This season, the Trojans traveled to Denver and watched the Pioneers score just 21 seconds into the match to take the 1-0 victory.  Troy head coach Chris Bentley believes that his team can build off of what they did in the final 89 minutes of action in that first contest.

"I think we started off on our heels and they took advantage quickly," he said.  "I think we will be ready for today's game.  We just need to play a compete game today to give ourselves a chance.  We will have to play a complete game defensively and capitalize offensively when we get the chances." 

Troy is making their first trip to the tournament under Bentley, and got into the tournament on the season's final weekend with a 1-0 victory over South Alabama.

"We are excited to be here," Bentley said.  "But at the same time I think we something to prove.  We are just going to represent Troy the best way that we can this afternoon."

The tournament kicked off Saturday morning with top-seeded FIU falling to eighth-seeded UALR 1-0 in overtime.  The Trojans and Denver take to the pitch at 3 pm on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, and the match can be seen on SBC Extra for a cost of $9.95.