Box Score 

The Detroit Titans women's soccer team concluded its six-game road stint with a historical 2-1 win over Oakland University Monday afternoon at the OU Soccer Field. The victory was Detroit's first over the Golden Grizzlies since the 1995 season snapping a nine-match losing skid. UDM moves to .500 on the season at 4-4-1 while OU falls to 1-7-2.

After 67 career games, senior defender Melanie Slusher (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) led the Titans with her first career goal which proved to be the game-winner on an assist from junior Emily Kiely (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's Secondary). Senior Trina Kochanski (Royal Oak, MI/Kimball) also tallied her first goal of the season.

Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Joanna Hinde (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower) faced 13 shots making three saves.

"We are really starting to jell as a team and get an understanding as to what it takes to win games," said head coach Mike Lupenec. "Defensively, our back line did an excellent job today and our front line played well as Emily, Trina and Selena [Stanski] put in a solid work effort creating our scoring opportunities. Its good to get two wins in a row heading into our next conference game and we need to continue to build on our intensity and take care of business at home."

Detroit got on the field first at the 3:56 mark of the first half as senior Nicole Gipson (Sterling Heights, MI/Stevenson) blasted a shot just inside the 18 yard line which was saved by Oakland goalkeeper Kim Herbst. However, the ball rebounded off her arm right in front of Kochanski who ripped a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Titans were not done as Kiely got the ball to the left side of the 18 yard box and delivered a quick touch pass to Slusher who came up form her defensive position and powered a low shot just inside the left post giving UDM a 2-0 lead.

"Once I got the ball up to Emily off a turnover, I called for her to drop it off at the top of the box because I still was running towards the goal," said Slusher. "After I got it, I just concentrated on shooting the ball low on net and it went in. Being a defender, I don't get many opportunities to score but I have had some chances over my career on corner kicks," added Slusher. "Today, it was really was exciting to get a real goal coming off a shot that proved to be the game-winner. It gave me a whole different feeling of confidence to the point that I felt like I could do anything."

Oakland responded at the 38:26 mark with a set piece goal cutting the lead to 2-1. On a direct kick, Jessica Boyle perfectly placed shot into the back left corner of the net past Hinde.

Midway through the second half, both teams traded scoring opportunities as sophomore Selena Stanski (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's Secondary) hit a shot from 10 yards out which Herbst was able to punch over the net. Detroit caught a break soon after as Ou's Lia Williamson took a crossing pass and put a shot past Hinde but hit the left post. Oakland would not get any closer as the Titans were able to hang on for the 2-1 win.

"I am glad I was able to contribute and help the team win, said Kiely. "I remember losing to Oakland last year and knew that we had not beaten them in a long time so it made me try even harder because we don't like to lose any matches but especially ones against conference foes and in-state rivals."

Detroit returns to Titan Field for its conference home opener against Cleveland State on Friday, Oct. 3 at 2:00 p.m.