FORT MEYERS, Fla. (8/18/2022) -- Freshman Sophia Blankenship scored her first collegiate goal and junior transfer Gabby Ketola tallied what proved to be the game-winner as the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team picked up a 2-1 road win at Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday evening in the season opener for both teams.

The win marked the first victory in a road opener for Detroit Mercy since beating Purdue Fort Wayne 3-0 in 2017 and the first season-opening road win since a 2-1 triumph at Western Michigan in 1996.

Junior Jazmine Scott came off the bench to tally four saves in between the pipes to pick up the win. 

Detroit Mercy got on the board first as after a save from junior Marisa Silver in the 10th minute, Blankenship was able to beat the keeper with a shot for a 1-0 lead at the 11:21 mark. Scott would enter the game nearly a minute later after Silver left with an injury and she tallied two saves the rest of the period and the defense was strong keeping FGCU off the board.

When play resumed in the second half, Gabby registered her first Division I goal as she took a pass from freshman Abbey Lodato and found the back of the net in the 49th minute. From there, the defense was able to fend off a number of Eagles' scoring opportunities as Scott recorded two more saves. The play of the game might have occurred in the 70th minute as FGCU was able to get a ball over Scott, but graduate senior defender Hailey Wentzloff was there to head the ball out before it went in the net to keep the red, white and blue in front.

Blankenship along with graduate senior Julie Ann Piechocki and senior Taylor Stanley each led the way with three shots apiece. 

The Titans will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 21, as they visit Florida Atlantic.  Read Full Article