Box Score
The Detroit Titans women's soccer team opened Horizon League play with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Youngstown State Friday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium. With the win, Detroit moves to 3-4-1, (1-0 HL) snapping a three-game losing skid, while Youngstown State saw its two-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 2-7 (0-1 HL). The Titans are 11-0 all-time against Penguins.
Detroit was led offensively by freshman Alyssa Korson (Suttons Bay, MI/Lake Leelanau St. Mary's) who tallied her first career goal in game-winning fashion with 3:35 minutes left in the match. The assists went to senior Melanie Slusher (Sterling Heights, MI Stevenson) and freshman Lauren Roffey (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield), which also was the first of her career.
Senior Nicole Gipson (Sterling Heights, MI Stevenson) also chipped in with the equalizer for her first goal of the season from freshman Alison Suschak (Brecksville, OH/Brecksville) and sophomore Selena Stanski (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's Secondary).
"I'm real happy with the way we played, especially how the team put in a hard 90 minutes and didn't let up which paid off in the end," said head coach Mike Lupenec. "We need to improve on some things but we are coming together as team. The upperclassmen are really doing a good job setting an example for our freshmen and they have really responded helping the team get a big win today in conference play on the road."
YSU got on the board first as Keeley Rice fired a direct kick from the right side 18 yard marker that sailed over freshman goalkeeper Joanna Hinde's (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower) arms into the back of the net.
Detroit's first chance at the equalizer came at the 14-minute mark as junior Emily Kiely got the ball just inside the penalty box and ripped a shot which beat YSU goalkeeper Mariah Snyder, but hit the crossbar. The Penguins were able to hold onto the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
At the 14:45 mark of the second half, Snyder went down with an injury and was replaced by freshman keeper Nicole Klime. The Titans were able to take advantage and even the match at 1-1 with 12:23 remaining in the game. Alison Suschak got the ball on the right side just outside 18 yard line and passed it to Stanski, who was inside the penalty box in the right corner. Stanski sent a cross which Gipson was able to connect with a header past Klime.
"We noticed that their starting goalie went out with an injury and knew we had to get more shots on net," said Gipson. "With this in mind, I moved way up from my defensive midfield position, called for the crossing pass and was able to time it perfectly with a header to tie the score. After that, I had a great feeling that we were going to win as long as we maintained our intensity."
UDM took the lead with just 3:35 left in the match as Slusher passed the ball up to Roffey, who was on the right side of the 18-yard line. Roffey took the pass and sent over a cross, which Korson was able to put past Klime and another defender to the left side near post giving Detroit the 2-1 victory.
"Once I got the ball from Lauren, I took a double-take and noticed that the goalie and another defender were already at the near post but I took the shot anyway and was able to get it pass both of them," said Korson. "It was good to see our hard work pay off towards the end of the game to get out first conference win and I am happy I was able to contribute."
"After I got the feed from Melanie, I was able to get around the defender and pass it to Alyssa, who took a touch and was able to score", added Roffey. "It was really exciting for us to come back late in the game and get our first conference win. I think this is what we needed to to get over the hump and build upon as the season contiunues."
Detroit concludes its six-match road stint with a non-conference a match against in-state foe Oakland on Monday, Sept. 29 at 4:00 p.m. in Rochester Hills, Mich.
