PONTIAC, Mich. (2/24/2021) -- There were plenty of shots with the two teams combining for 39 in Wednesday's Horizon League match, but the defense stood tall as the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team battled IUPUI to a 0-0 tie from UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac. The match was played indoors due to the weather conditions.
The Titans (1-1-1, 1-1-1 HL) had their opportunities in the contest, including hitting a crossbar and just before the end of the first overtime, with junior
Julie Ann Piechocki firing a free-kick just over the bar with nine seconds left before the whistle. Detroit Mercy out-shot the Jaguars (1-0-1, 1-0-1 HL) in the contest, 23-16.
The red, white and blue had 13 shots total in the opening 45 minutes of the contest, four of them in the first 10 minutes as the Titans came out with a head of steam. Piechocki connected on the crossbar in the 14th minute of the match before freshman
Olivia Zulewski pushed a rebound attempt just right of the frame. In the 28th minute, freshman
Alexis McNeil had a pair of attempts in the box and her second shot was saved by IUPUI keeper AP Woodall.
The Jaguars didn't get their first shot on goal until late in the first half, when Titan freshman goalkeeper
Marisa Silver made a save in the 35th minute. Senior
Olivia Parra had a header attempt that was saved in the box early in the second half and in the 64th minute, freshman
Erica Toupin had her shot saved by Woodall. Toupin had two more shots late in the contest, one the was saved in the 82nd minute and one late in the match that was off-target.
Toupin had the first shot on goal in overtime -- just 27 seconds into the frame, however, her shot was scooped up by Woodall. Piechocki then had a look on net that was saved, before IUPUI's Maya Lacognato pushed one right of the right post and out of play.
Piechocki had the best chance of the first overtime frame, as the Titans earned a free-kick just outside of the box in the final minute. With 10 seconds left, she sent the free-kick towards the right far post, but her attempt sailed just high of the crossbar as the two sides played on into second overtime.
There were three shot attempts in the second overtime stanza, but none were on net as the two sides played well defensively in the final 10 minutes to finish the match in a draw.
Silver recorded her first collegiate clean sheet, making three saves in 110 minutes. Piechocki and Toupin each finished with six shots in the contest, with Toupin firing three of the six Titan shots on goal in the match. Freshman
Karsen Murray, McNeil, Parra and Zulewski all added two shots for the Titans in the game.
Fouls were even in the match at 14 for each side, while each team was also issued one yellow card. IUPUI held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-5.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the pitch next Wednesday, hosting Metro Series rival Oakland from Titan Field on March 3. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m.
