Box Score
Lupenec pied following 200th career victory  |  Postgame Interview

DETROIT (10/8/2014) -- Senior defender Victoria Sollestre (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Marian) scored her first collegiate goal in the 80th minute Wednesday to help lift the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Youngstown State University at Titan Field.

The win was the 200th victory in the history of the Detroit women's soccer program as well as the 200th career coaching win for head coach Mike Lupenec, who has been at the helm of the Titan women's soccer program for all 22 seasons.

Detroit improved to 5-5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State (6-5-2, 2-1-1 HL) entered the game as the leader in the conference with seven points, but Detroit took over first place with nine points following the win.

"This was a tough battle," Lupenec said. "All these Horizon League games are one-goal games and it's about good team defense. We were fortunate enough to score a goal. We beat a team that was undefeated and we're in first place right now. We just have to build on this and take care of the home games."

"On the 200 victories, there should be a lot of people included in getting there -- the players, the athletic directors, I've had three of them, who have showed confidence in me through the years when I struggled. There's been a lot of people involved in the success of this program."

A windy day on the field didn't present many scoring opportunities for either side. There were just three shots total in the first half. Detroit had the only shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes, as sophomore Ellyn Nedwicki (Dearborn, Mich. / Divine Child) had a chance in the 42nd minute.

There weren't many scoring chances in the second half either, but Sollestre found some space on the left side and lifted a long shot towards the goal. Youngstown State goalkeeper Jackie Podolsky came in a few steps before realizing the ball was going over her head. Sollestre's shot ended up out of her reach and into the back of the net with just 10:42 seconds remaining in the game.

It was the first goal for Sollestre in her four-year career at Detroit as Wednesday's game was her 64th in a Titan uniform and 53rd start.

Detroit finished the game with five shots, compared to three shots for YSU. The Titans had the edge in corner kicks, 2-1. Junior Sara Zawacki (Dearborn, Mich. / Marian) also had a shot on goal for UDM.

The shutout was Detroit's fifth of the season. The Titans improved to 2-0-1 at home this season and 14-0-1 in its last 15 games played at Titan Field.

Detroit has the weekend off and next plays Tuesday, Oct. 14, against Madonna University in a 3 p.m. match at Titan Field.