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DETROIT (8/11/2012) -- The annual women's soccer alumni match produced its greatest turnout ever Saturday afternoon at Titan Field as the 20th season of women's soccer at the University of Detroit Mercy was celebrated. Current team members, alumni, staff, family and friends all came back to help commemorate the start of the anniversary season with an afternoon of memories.
 
The day started with a soccer contest pitting the 2012 Detroit Titans against a group of nearly 25 alumni players that came back to look back at 20 years of women's soccer.
 
“I think it's a great event. A lot of these girls are champions in the program and helped build the program from the start. I think it's great when they can come back, and not only give back to our team but it's good to see them with young kids and family and it means a lot to me because they are part of our Titan family,” said women's soccer head coach Mike Lupenec who has been the only head coach in the history of the program.
 
Following the contest, a cookout gave coaches and players an opportunity to talk about some of the more memorable moments as Detroit Titans. Trick or treating, Gatorade in the engine, Niagara Falls and the 2004 championship team were just a few of the memories to talk about in the 20 years of the program.
 
Since the first season in 1993, the women's team has made 13 conference semifinal appearances and took home conference championships in 1995 and 2004. The 2004 season saw UDM capture its only NCAA Tournament victory after beating the University of Michigan in the opening round by a 3-2 score in a game played at Ohio State.
 
Today's alumni match saw Nina Carter and Abby McCollum each score a pair of goals and newcomer Haley Burtraw add a fifth goal as the 2012 Titans won the soccer contest by a 5-0 score.
 
“I think it was great seeing how many alumni came out today. You can see they have a lot of skill and they gave us a good run in the first half,” said current Titan junior Nora Abolins who played the first half in goal for the 2012 Titans. Freshman Martha Dunbar was in between the pipes for the second half of play.
 
“We had some quality opportunities and probably could have had a goal or two but we played great against a team that is training and playing every day,” said Jamie Huff who coached the alumni team and will enter his 11^th season as an assistant coach with Titans in 2012.
 
“As half time approached, we had the kids involved and had some fun activities for the family and then the younger girls [2012 Titans] came out organized and gave it to us in the second half.”
 
The alumni team saw Erika Rust in goal for the first half and Katie Fortenberry in net for the second frame. With a 1-0 deficit at the end of the first half, the current Titans ran away with the victory in the second as the training and practice time proved too much for the alumni squad.
 
At halftime, children took part in an obstacle course relay race on the field as the day really looked to encourage the family friendly atmosphere of Detroit Titan athletics.
 
“It was good because there were some people that I haven't played with and some people that I haven't played with before today,” said alumni Nicole Gipson.  
 
“I think this is the biggest outcome we have had for this event since I graduated and it was good to see everyone get involved. We gave it a go in the first half and it was a lot of fun overall.”
 
The lone member (yet) of the women's soccer program in the Detroit Titans Hall of Fame was also in attendance as Cindy Fix was able to attend the day's activities. Members of the 2004 Championship team were also on hand with a championship ring to show off as motivation to the current group of Titans.  
 
The Titans have now completed the exhibition series and will now look ahead to the season opener on Friday, Aug. 17 when Central Michigan comes to Titan Field for a 3:00 p.m. start. For information on tickets to that game, please click HERE.