Box score

See Mike Lupenec's Postgame Comments

The women's soccer team won a 2-0 battle over Valparaiso on Sunday afternoon at Titan Field. The Titans came out strong and controlled most of the possession in the first half trying to earn a victory against a Crusader team that fell in the Horizon League final to Milwaukee last year.

Detroit (4-3-3/1-0-0 HL) hit the scoreboard first putting a tally in just 5:00 into the game. Sophomore Sarah Dzuris (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) scored her third goal of the season off a cross from freshman Kaitlyn Quarrell (Thunder Bay, ON/St. Ignatius). Quarrell played the ball from the right side to Dzuris who was directly in front of the net and she placed a nice one-timer into the goal. The Titans continued to pressure in the opening frame holding an 8-2 shooting advantage, including three shots on goal to just one for the Crusaders (4-4-3/0-1-0 HL).

“In the first half, I thought we played really well. We created scoring opportunities and defensively we shut them down and the energy was good. I'm proud of what our girls did today,” said head coach Mike Lupenec.

Valparaiso came out after halftime determined to score and dominated the opening fifteen minutes. The best opportunity came off a corner at 50:16 as Brooke Henderson's header hit the crossbar just missing the net.

Detroit would add another tally in the second half at the 73:55 mark as sophomore Nina Carter (Clinton Twp. MI/Chippewa Valley) broke in from midfield to the 18-yard box and crossed the ball to the middle. The Valpo goalkeeper grabbed the ball, but then lost control and Lauren Roffey (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) was ready and waiting as the junior knocked it in for her first of the season.

Freshman goalkeeper Nora Abolins (Demorestville, ON/Centennial) posted her fourth shutout of the season, coming up with three saves on the day.

“It shows the girls are buying into what we've been doing on defensive set pieces, offensive set pieces, matching up with teams and winning the 50-50 battles," said Lupenec. "I felt today that we did that and I think we deserved the win."

The Titans' next match will be this Friday as they head to Dayton, OH to play Wright State in a 5:00 p.m. match. Internet users can watch the game online as it will be shown the Horizon League network. The link will be posted on the women's soccer schedule page.