Box Score
The Detroit Titans women's soccer team put forth a valiant effort against Loyola, who entered the game as the Horizon League's top team, but fell 2-0 Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at Titan Field.
With the loss, Detroit (8-6-1, 4-2HL) saw its three-game win streak snapped, while Loyola (11-8-0, 6-1HL) remains atop the conference standings with its eighth win in its last nine games.
The Titans were outshot by a slim 15-10 margin, but could not get the ball past Loyola goalkeeper Katie Groesch, who locked up her fifth shutout on the season. Cynthi Morote-Ariz paced the Ramblers scoring both goals.
Despite allowing two goals (including a penalty kick), senior goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry (Flushing, MI/Flushing) was solid in net making some spectacular saves to keep the game within reach for the Titans.
"We had our chances against one of the best teams in the conference, but made some uncharacteristic mistakes which their [Loyola] top player, Cynthi, made us pay for, " commented head coach Mike Lupenec. "However, I am really proud of how we are playing right now. The team is playing good soccer, keeping possession of the ball and doing everything I am expecting of them as a coach," added Lupenec. "Our focus to detail needs to be a little bit better, but I am happy how we matched up against two of the better teams in the conference and am looking forward to next weekend against Milwaukee and Green Bay."
Early in the first half, Detroit got a great chance to get on the board first as junior Emily Kiely (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's Secondary) broke in alone and ripped a shot to the lower left post that just missed.
At the 27:19 mark, Fortenberry charged a cross but drew a penalty when she collided into a Loyola player inside the box. Morote-Ariz then scored on the penalty kick to give Loyola a 1-0 lead.
Morote-Ariz struck again with 4:40 left in the first half splitting three defenders and powering a shot from 23 yards out, which beat Fortenberry high to the left corner.
In the second half, the Titans had two great scoring opportunities, but could not catch the break they needed. On a corner kick, senior Melanie Slusher (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) was able to redirect a cross into the corner, but a Loyola defender was able to stretch out and block the shot keeping the ball from going into the back of the net.
With about 20 minutes left in the game, senior Nicole Gipson (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) got the ball in space at the top of the 18-yard line and ripped a shot that beat Groesch, but hit the crossbar.
Before the game, the team honored its six seniors, Fortenberry, Gipson, Trina Kochanski (Royal Oak, MI/Kimball), Shelley Marick (Lake Orion, MI/Lake Orion), Lauren Moss (Berkley, MI/Bishop Foley) and Slusher for their hard work and dedication to the program on and off the field.
Detroit is back in action on Friday, Oct. 24, when the Titans travel to Wisconsin for a Horizon League match-up against Milwaukee.
