Live Stats vs. Central Michigan University 9-18-09

With the temperature beginning to cool off and the offense starting to heat up, the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer squad will venture north to conclude a four-game road trip against Central Michigan University at 4 p.m. in Mount Pleasant Friday.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?
You can still catch all the action between the Titans and the Chippewas with live stats right HERE.

OFFENSE ON THE UPSWING
Despite a 1-2-0 record through the first three games of their road trip, the Titans (2-3-1 overall) have seen some encouraging signs, most notably out of the front line. Detroit has scored in three straight games, a stretch during which they have tallied four of their five goals on the season.

In her first game away from Titan Field UDM freshman Sarah Dzuris (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) netted her first career goal just before halftime for a 1-0 lead. The Titans appeared headed to a 1-0 victory, but on a restart from midfield in the 85th minute IUPUI evened the score and then scored the golden goal with under three minutes to go in the first overtime period, handing Detroit a 2-1 loss Friday evening.

Sunday evening the Titans were back in Indiana to square off with IPFW. Detroit took a 1-0 lead at the 31:12 mark when a shot by sophomore defender Alexandra Suschak (Brecksville, OH/Brecksville) was deflected by the Mastodons keeper, but Dzuris took control of the rebound and scored her second career goal. UDM went into halftime clinging to its lead, but less than a minute after resuming play the lead doubled when freshman Nina Carter (Clinton Twp., MI/Chippewa Valley) scored her second career goal, taking the ball down the right side of the field and beating the keeper to the far post. With under 20 minutes left in the game IPFW cut the lead on a Rhea Proctor goal, but it wasn't enough as the Titans notched a 2-1 victory of their own.

Detroit faced its heftiest challenge of the season Tuesday afternoon, facing Michigan State in East Lansing. The Spartans entered the game as one of only 20 unbeaten teams left in the nation with a 4-0-1 record and had given up only one goal all year entering the contest. But after trailing 1-0 following a Spartan goal in the 16th minute, Carter took a long pass from junior Selena Stanski (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's Secondary) down the right sideline and knocked a shot past the keeper to tie the match 1-1. MSU reclaimed the lead, scoring the eventual game-winner, with under 40 seconds to go in the opening stanza, and added one final goal at 73:35 to cap a 3-1 victory over the Titans.

Carter leads the Titans with three goals on the season while Dzuris has recorded the other two. Stanski, senior Trina Kochanski (Royal Oak, MI/Kimball) and sophomores Alexandra Suschak and Alyssa Korson (Sutton Bay, MI/Lake Leelanau St. Mary's) each have one assist.

PIECING IT TOGETHER
With a young roster comprised of 16 freshmen and sophomores, Titans head coach Mike Lupenec has been experimenting and tinkering with different combinations on the field in an attempt to find the right fit. Through six games and after seeing his squad compete against tough competition, Lupenec believes it's beginning to come together.

Senior Alauna Pierce (Toronto, ON/Mowat), Alexandra Suschak and freshman Mary Leone (St. Clair Shores, MI/Lakeview) have each started all six games and anchor the back line for the Titans. Behind them, sophomore keeper Joanna Hinde (Shelby Twp., MI/Eisenhower) has been solid, posting a 1.59 goals against average, 38 saves and two shutouts so far.

Kochanski, Stanski, Carter and freshman Janae Paveglio (Flushing, MI/Flushing) have been mainstays up front for all six games, and Dzuris has certainly ensured that she will factor into the equation offensively. Kochanski has recorded eight shots and put six on goal, Stanski has put four of nine shots on goal and Paveglio has put her only shot of the season on goal.

THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan enters Friday's contest with a record of 4-3-0 this season, coming off of a 1-0 overtime victory at home against Illinois State University. All three of the Chippewas' losses have come against Big Ten opponents Michigan State, Michigan and Indiana. The Titans last win in the series came in Mount Pleasant in 2004 by a score of 2-1.

Freshman Laura Twidle leads the Chippewas on offense as the only player to have scored multiple goals. Twidle has found the back of net four times, twice notching game-winners, and has tallied one assist. Junior Shay Mannino has started all seven games in goal for CMU and owns a 1.32 goals against average with 13 saves and three shutouts.

BACK TO DETROIT, ON TO HAWAII
UDM will return to Titan Field Tuesday for the first time in two weeks to host the Oakland University Grizzlies. The Titans will then have a quick turnaround as they head to the airport Wednesday morning to begin the long trek to Hawaii for a pair of games against the University of Hawaii on Friday and Sunday.