Box Score GREEN BAY, Wis. (10/17/2014) -- Senior
Alyssa Riley (Whitby, Ont. / Father Leo J. Austin) scored on a header with 3:39 left in the first overtime period Saturday to lift the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team to a thrilling 3-2 win over host Green Bay at Santaga Stadium.
The Titans (7-5-1 overall) improved to 4-1 in the Horizon League standings with the victory and remain in second place behind Valparaiso. Detroit also earned its third conference win in overtime as UDM defeated Cleveland State and UIC earlier this season.
"Green Bay really came at us hard," Detroit head coach
Mike Lupenec said after the game. "They are one of the better offensive teams in our conference this year. Any time you are playing away from home against a good team, it's great to get a win. The bottom line is to beat a good team at their place, it'll help us going forward. In the next three (league) games, we're looking to win the conference. I'm proud of the girls. In overtime, we were looking to win the game."
The match was a back-and-forth battle all day between the Titans and Phoenix. Green Bay took the lead early in the contest after scoring in the 21st minute. The Titans responded just minutes later as sophomore
Anna Mindling (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) scored on a rebound after Riley's header was saved. Mindling's second goal of the season tied the match 1-1 in the 27th minute.
Green Bay had 12 shots on goal in the first half, but Detroit freshman goalkeeper
Marina Manzo (Washington Township, Mich. / Romeo) made 11 saves in net in the opening 45 minutes to help keep the score knotted 1-1 at the break.
Detroit took advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, taking the lead 2-1 on a goal by junior
Sara Zawacki (Dearborn, Mich. / Marian). After receiving a pass from junior
Jennifer Borawski (Northville, Mich. / Northville), Zawacki buried the shot for her first goal of the season in the 51st minute.
Green Bay knotted the match after the Phoenix was awarded a penalty kick in the 77th minute. Karina Fredette scored for Green Bay to square the match up again, 2-2. Detroit went into its third overtime match in five league games after neither team could score in the final minutes of regulation.
In overtime, Detroit had the only two shots and past the midway point of the overtime session, senior
Haley Burtraw (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) found Riley on a cross into the box. Riley scored the game-winning goal, knocking it to the left of Green Bay goalkeeper Nastacia Behle. The goal was Riley's fourth game-winner of the year.
Manzo made 13 saves in net, which was the most by a Titan goalkeeper in more than five seasons. Manzo's 13 saves were the most since Joanne Hinde turned away 14 shots against Hawaii on Sept. 24, 2009. Manzo faced 22 shots overall on the day as Green Bay out-shot the Titans, 22-9.
Riley reached several milestones on the afternoon. The goal was her sixth of the season, which matched a career high for goals in a season that she also reached in both 2011 and 2013. Riley had two assists on the day and has 14 career helpers, tying her for eighth all-time in the record book with
Abby McCollum (2010-13) and Miriam Cavanaugh (1993-96). She also moved into 11th all-time in points as she reached the 50-point plateau with her four-point effort Saturday.
Riley also moved into a tie for third all-time with her seventh career game-winning goal. She has four game-winning goals this season, which is the most in a season since Mary Parker had five game winners in 2006.
The Titans return home for their next match, hosting rival Oakland on Wednesday, Oct. 22, for the next Metro Series match-up between the two schools. The game is set to start at 3:00 p.m., at Titan Field.
