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VALPARAISO, Ind. (11/6/2014) -- Alyssa Lotito's penalty kick found the back of the net and the elation ensued.

The University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team advanced to the Horizon League Championship title game Thursday evening, defeating rival Oakland, 1-0, in overtime in the tournament semifinal game played in windy and chilly conditions on Brown Field. It's the second time this season that Detroit (9-8-1) has earned an overtime victory over the Golden Grizzlies (6-11-3) as the red, white and blue downed Oakland, 2-1, at home back on Oct. 22. 

The Titans reach the championship game of the Horizon League for the seventh time in program history and Detroit has earned a pair of tournament championships (1995, 2004). The last appearance for UDM was in 2006, when the Titans fell to Loyola. 

Neither team scored in regulation, pushing the match to overtime. Late in the first overtime session, senior midfielder Alyssa Riley (Whitby, Ont. / Father Leo J. Austin) was tackled inside the box after finding a seam in the defense and sprinting towards the goal. Detroit was granted a penalty kick with 1:02 left in the overtime period.

Junior defender Alyssa Lotito (Macomb, Mich. / Eisenhower) took the kick and fired the ball to the left side of the net past Oakland goalkeeper Alison Holland, ending the match and giving Detroit its first Horizon League semifinal win since 2006. Lotito's penalty kick goal was also her second of the season.

"I'm proud of the girls," Detroit head coach Mike Lupenec said. "I thought we had some quality chances in the first half. It was anybody's game and the girls fought hard and it came down to Riley breaking away and being fouled. We beat a good Oakland team. They were here for a reason. It was great for some of these girls that have been knocking on the door in getting to the title game. They have been a big part of the success."

Lupenec credited the back line with another strong game. Detroit posted its seventh shutout of the season and won its fifth game in overtime.

"They've been solid all year," Lupenec said of the back line, including freshman goalkeeper Marina Manzo. "To shutout a quality Oakland side with good offensive players, it's a testament to these players. We limited them to corner and set pieces outside the box. It's a credit to what they've done all year. A lot of times back lines don't get the credit. Without the back line this year, we wouldn't be in the final right now."

The Titans had six shots in the first half, three of them on goal. Detroit junior Jennifer Borawski (Northville, Mich. / Northville) had an opportunity in the second minute of the match, recording a shot on goal after receiving the ball inside the box.

Detroit's best chance in the first half came off a free kick by Lotito. She fired a shot against the wind from roughly 25 yards out, but the shot deflected off the crossbar on the far side of the goal.

In the second half, Lotito had another chance on a free kick from outside the box, but her shot sailed over the goal. Oakland's best chance in scoring came midway through the first overtime period. The Golden Grizzlies got the ball in front of the net, and took several shots on goal with a mass of players from both sides in the box. Several Oakland shots were blocked and then Detroit successfully defended a corner kick that followed.

Not long thereafter, Riley was hauled down, setting up Lotito's game-winning goal.

Both teams finished with 13 shots in the match. Oakland had six corner kicks, while Detroit had two corner kick opportunities.

Freshman goalkeeper Marina Manzo (Washington Township, Mich. / Romeo) made three saves in net for the shutout. Riley had a team-high four shots for Detroit, while Lotito and Borawski each finished with three shots for the Titans.

Detroit will now face top-seeded Valparaiso for the title and a berth to the NCAA Championship. The Horizon League Championship is set for 8:00 p.m. (EST) on Saturday in Valparaiso.