Troup High Girls Soccer Mercy Rules Riverdale 10-0

Bayleigh Sharman's hat trick and Kaitlyn Smalley's early brace lead Troup to dominant victory.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Troup High girls soccer team continued their remarkable turnaround from a winless season, mercy ruling Riverdale 10-0 on Monday. Kaitlyn Smalley scored a brace in the opening 10 minutes, while Bayleigh Sharman recorded a hat trick. Other goal scorers included Taylor Langford, Areli Mendoza, and Rachel Gibson, who scored a stunning shot into the upper 90.

Why it matters

This game highlights the dramatic improvement of the Troup High girls soccer program, which went from a winless season to dominating opponents. The team's ability to mercy rule opponents shows how far they have come in a short period of time.

The details

Troup High scored 10 unanswered goals against Riverdale, including a hat trick from Bayleigh Sharman and two early goals from Kaitlyn Smalley. Other scorers were Taylor Langford, Areli Mendoza, and Rachel Gibson, who netted a stunning shot into the upper 90 of the goal.

  • The game took place on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • Smalley scored her two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the match.
  • Langford and Mendoza scored in the 13th and 14th minutes, respectively, to put Troup up 4-0 early.

The players

Bayleigh Sharman

A senior player for the Troup High girls soccer team who recorded a hat trick in the 10-0 victory over Riverdale.

Kaitlyn Smalley

A Troup High player who scored two early goals to help her team jump out to a big lead, continuing her strong play after not playing soccer until last year.

Taylor Langford

A Troup High player who scored a stunning goal from outside the box to put the Tigers up 3-0 early in the match.

Areli Mendoza

A Troup High player who found the back of the net in the 14th minute to extend her team's lead to 4-0.

Rachel Gibson

A Troup High player who scored perhaps the best goal of the game, lacing a shot into the upper 90 that left the Riverdale goalkeeper with no chance.

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What they’re saying

“I'm pretty sure every game we play, we are breaking records. I can't tell you the last time we mercy ruled anybody.”

— Kaitlyn Smalley, Troup High Player

“It has been a lot of practice and working on my footwork. I'm actually learning how to play, and I'm not just kicking it.”

— Kaitlyn Smalley, Troup High Player

What’s next

The Troup High girls soccer team will look to continue their strong play and push for a deep playoff run after their dominant victory over Riverdale.

The takeaway

The remarkable turnaround of the Troup High girls soccer program, from a winless season to mercy ruling opponents, shows the power of dedication, hard work, and a commitment to improvement. This team has gone from an afterthought to a force to be reckoned with in a short period of time.