DETROIT (9/14/22) – The Detroit Mercy women's soccer team opens Horizon League play with a pair of matches against Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State.
 
The Titans will host the Norse on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. with the game being broadcast live from Titan Field on ESPN+ with Steven MacDonald on the call. Thursday's game is also Pups on the Pitch Night so make sure to bring your favorite four-legged friend to the game!
 
Detroit Mercy then travels to CSU on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. with the game being broadcast live from Krenzler Field on ESPN+.
 
A Look at the Competition:
NKU and CSU were picked to finish third and fourth respectively in the 2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll. The Norse are winless on the season at 0-4-1 while the Vikings are 3-2-2 overall.
 
The Team:
The 2022 season marks the 29th year of the women's soccer program.
Head Coach Steve Shelton is in his fourth season with the program.
 
Blankenship Bringing It:
Freshman Sophia Blankenship has had no trouble making the jump from high school to college solidifying herself as an offensive force so far leading the team in goals (3) which also is tied for fourth in the Horizon League. She scored her first collegiate goal at in Detroit Mercy's 2-1 win at FGCU (8/18) and followed with her second in the Tians' 2-1 win over Canisius (8/28). She added her team-best third goal at Central Michigan (9/1).
 
Stanley Stepping Up:
Senior Taylor Stanley recorded her first goal of the season along with two assists for a total of four points helping Detroit Mercy to a 1-0-1 record last weekend. She assisted on the equalizer in the Titans' 1-1 draw against Western Michigan (8/25). After assisting on Detroit Mercy's first goal against Canisius (8/28), she scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute giving the Titans a 2-1 win over the Golden Griffins.
 
Newcomers Making Solid Impact:
-Junior transfer Gabby Ketola tallied the game-winner, her first in a Titan uniform, during the 48th minute in Detroit Mercy's 2-1 win over FGSU.
 
-Freshman Abbey Lodato picked the perfect time to notch her first career goal as she headed in the equalizer off a header in the Titans' 1-1 draw against WMU (8/25). She also notched her first career assist on Ketola's game-winning goal at FGCU and added another assist against Canisius.
 
-Freshman Megan Malek posted her first career goal at CMU.
 
Scott Making the Stops:
Junior Jasmine Scott helped Detroit Mercy to a 1-0-1 record to start the season recording 10 total saves. She posted five saves in the Titans' 1-1 draw against Western Michigan and picked up her second win of the season making another five saves in the Titans' 2-1 win over Canisius. She has now made five saves in three consecutive games and recorded her second career win coming off the bench posting four saves to secure the Titans' win at FGCU (8/18).
 
A Long Time Coming:
Detroit Mercy's 2-1 season opening win at Florida Gulf Coast marked the first season-opening road win for the Titans since a 2-1 triumph at Western Michigan in 1996.
 
Titans picked 10th in 2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll:
The Detroit Mercy women's soccer team was picked to finish 10th in the 2022 Horizon League women's Soccer (#HLWSOC) Preseason Poll as announced by the league office and voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. The Titans received 28 points.
 
Returning Firepower:
The Titans have 25 returners including junior Erica Toupin who led the team last season in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12) followed by graduate student Julie Ann Piechocki who also tied for the lead in goals (4) while ranking third in assists (2) and points (10). Sophomore Sarah Soraghan and senior Taylor Stanley also return after both ranked second on the team in goals (2) and fourth in points (5). Junior Tia Jokic is back after ranking second in goals (2) and fifth in points (4). Graduate student Hailey Wentzloff (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 points) and Sophomore Sophia Butkovich (1 assists) also return to round out the offensive production from the 2021 season.
 
Home Grown Talent:
Detroit Mercy has 27 student-athletes from the state of Michigan and one from California in Grace Brutto.
 
O' Canada:
The 2022 roster also includes seven student-athletes from the Canadian Province of Ontario in Cece Muskovac, Danica Paesano, Tia Jokic, Isabella Kaschalk, Alessandra Pontoni, Mysa Elmokadem and Jen Mateyak.
 
Newcomers:
Detroit Mercy has a diverse group of 11 newcomers in goalkeeper Holli Brown, forwards Gabby Ketola, Brynn White, Sophia Blankenship, midfielders Soraya Puerto-Khalil, Megan Malek, Abby Lodato, Mysa Elmokadem and Grace Brutto and defenders Jen Mateyak and Cecily Hughes who will look to make an immediate impact.
 
Season Rewind:
Sept. 8 – Detroit Mercy 0 at EKU 1:
Freshman Sophia Blankenship and senior Taylor Stanley each posted two shots on goal while graduate student Julie Ann Piechocki had three shots as Detroit Mercy fell short 1-0 at Eastern Kentucky on Thursday afternoon. In the second half, the game remained scoreless until EKU (3-2) finally broke through in the 71st minute off a corner kick set piece to take a 1-0 lead.

Sept. 4 – Detroit Mercy 0 at Bowling Green 1:
Graduate student Hailey Wentzloff nearly got the equalizer off her only shot on goal in the second half as Detroit Mercy came up short falling 1-0 at Bowling Green. Senior Taylor Stanley and sophomore Sarah Soraghan each recorded two shots while graduate student Julie Ann Piechocki had one. Junior Jazmine Scott made three saves in goal for the second straight game.
 
Sept. 1 – Detroit Mercy 2 at Central Michigan 4:
Freshman Sophia Blankenship continued her outstanding offensive production scoring her team-leading third goal of the season while fellow freshman Megan Malek posted her first career goal as Detroit Mercy battled but fell 4-2 at Central Michigan. Junior Jazmine Scott made three saves in goal.
 
Aug. 28 – Detroit Mercy 2 vs Canisius 1:
Senior Taylor Stanley connected on a cross from graduate student Julie Ann Piechocki in the 81st minute to secure the game-winning goal propelling Detroit Mercy to a 2-1 win over Canisius at Titan field. Freshman Sophia Blankenship also scored her second career goal of the season off an assist from Abbey Lodato and Stanley. Junior Jazmine Scott made five saves in goal to pick up her second win of the season. She has now made five saves in three consecutive games.
 
Aug. 25 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs WMU 1:
Freshman Abbey Lodato picked the perfect time to notch her first career goal as she headed in the equalizer off a beautiful cross from senior Taylor Stanley set up by a feed from junior Paige Myers in the 79th minute as Detroit Mercy played Western Michigan to a 1-1 draw in home opening action at Titan Field. Junior Jazmine Scott made five saves in goal while facing 19 total shots.
 
Aug. 21 – Detroit Mercy 0 at FAU 4:
The Detroit Mercy women's soccer team split their season opening Florida road swing with a 1-1 record after a 4-0 setback at Florida Atlantic. FAU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the 12th and 18th minute. The Titans held the Owls at bay before they added two more tallies to take a 4-0 lead at the half. In the second half, both team defenses kept the offenses off the board to close out the game
 
Aug. 18 – Detroit Mercy 2 at FGCU 1:
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. Junior Jazmine Scott came off the bench to tally four saves in between the pipes to pick up her second career win.
 
Exhibition Recap:
Aug. 14 – Detroit Mercy 6 vs Schoolcraft College 1:
Graduate Student Julie Ann Piechocki netted two goals while freshman Gabby Ketola added a goal and assist to lead the Detroit Mercy women's soccer team to a convincing 6-1 win over visiting Schoolcraft College to conclude exhibition play. Freshman Abby Lodato and sophomores Adriana Mroz and Sophia Butkovich each added a tally with junior Paige Myers, freshman Soraya Puerto-Khalil, freshman Mysa Elmokadem and sophomore Genevieve Crocker each adding an assist. Junior Marisa Silver picked up the win in goal while junior Jazmine Scott, graduate student Cece Muskovac and freshman Holli Brown all saw action in net for the Titans.
 
Aug. 11. – Detroit Mercy 3 vs Eastern Michigan 2:
Sophomore Sarah Soraghan notched the game-winning goal off a feed from freshman Sophia Blankenship in the 65th minute of the second half propelling the Detroit Mercy women's soccer team to a 2-1 exhibition win over Eastern Michigan on Thursday at the Legacy Center Sports Complex. After trailing 1-0 at the half, freshman Gabby Ketola sparked the comeback notching the equalizer in the 56th minute. Junior Marisa Silver picked up the win in goal making three saves.