DETROIT (8-11-26) – The Detroit Mercy women's soccer team travels to the Bluegrass State to kick off the 2026 season at Southeastern Conference (SEC) power Kentucky on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from the Bell Soccer Complex on the ESPN+ SEC Network.
 
The Team:
The 2026 season marks the 33rd year of the women's soccer program.
 
Scouting the Wildcats:
• This is the third consecutive meeting between the Titans and Wildcats.
• Kentucky leads the all-time series against Detroit Mercy 3-0-1 after back-to-back 2-0 wins over UDM during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
• Before the last two meetings, the last time the Titans and Wildcats played was a 4-0 setback on Oct. 3, 1997.
• Last season, the Wildcats went 12-4-5 overall and 5-2-3 in SEC play.
• UK tied Georgia (1-1) but fell 5-4 in penalty kicks in the SEC Championship game.
• The Wildcats received an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament and tied arch-rival No. 6 Louisville (1-1) before falling 5-4 on penalty kicks in the first round.
 
Last Time Out vs Kentucky:
Aug. 24, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 0 at Kentucky 2:
Junior Eva Hill was solid in goal, recording a career-high nine saves as Detroit Mercy battled but concluded their three-game road swing with a 2-0 setback at Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at Bell Soccer Complex.
 
Hill posted three saves in the first half, allowing a goal early in the match, but regrouped, making six saves in the second half to hold Kentucky (4-0) at bay. U-K added their second goal off a penalty kick in the 52nd minute.
 
Follow the Leader:
• Head Coach Steve Shelton is in his eighth season and looks to get the program back on track after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
• During the 2024 season, Shelton led the Titans to a 10-8-2 overall record, winning 10 games for the first time since the 2016 season, while going 7-1-2 in #HLWSOC play, which ranks as the most league wins in program history. The Titans finished third in the league standings after being picked to finish eighth in the preseason.
• As the No. 3 seed in the #HLWSOC Tournament, Shelton led Detroit Mercy to a quarterfinal victory over No.6 seed Purdue Fort Wayne for the program's first tournament win since 2018, before eventually falling in the semifinals to No. 2 seed Northern Kentucky.
• For his efforts, he earned #HLWSOC Coach of the Year honors, becoming the first UDM head coach to garner this award since the 2012 season. Shelton also led the Titans to an undefeated 4-0-2 mark on the road, and a second straight Metro Series victory over arch-rival Oakland.
 
Returning Firepower:
• The Titans have 14 returners led by senior Jada Rivera, who tied for second on the team in goals (3) and ranked third in points (7).
 
• Sophomore Emma Henry will look to add to the offense after a solid freshman campaign where she started in all 18 games and ranked fourth on the team in goals (2) and tied for fourth in points (4).
 
• Juniors Sam Sickinger, Kyleen Bradow, Camryn Pepper (2025 Valeo #HLWSOC All-Academic Team selection) and sophomore Kiely Robinson will also be called upon to increase offensive production after each player scored a goal last season.
 
Last Line of Defense:
• Senior and 2024 #HLWSOC All-League Second Team and 2025 Valeo All-Academic Team selection Leila Lanier returns after anchoring the back line to two shutouts last season while recording four points with two goals from her defensive position.
 
Between the Pipes:
• Senior Eva Hill returns after recording 14 starts while leading the team in saves (66) and goals-against-average (2.20).
• Recorded first career shutout, with one save, in 0-0 draw against Green Bay (10/12).
• Matched a career-best nine saves in goal against #HLWSOC leader Milwaukee (10/9).
• Recorded a career-high nine saves in the 2-0 setback at Kentucky (8/28).
• Sophomore and Saint Francis transfer Izzy Rener and freshman Evangeline Lulgjuraj will also look to compete in goal.
 
Big Boots to Fill:
• The Titans will look to fill the huge offensive void left by Abbey Lodato, who led the team in points (22 – T-2nd HL), goals (8 – T-2nd HL), assists (6 – T-3rd HL), and game-winning goals (2 – T-3rd HL) finishing her career as a Three-time #HLWSOC All-League First Team selection (2023, 2024, 2025), Horizon League Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team selection (2022).
• For her career, Lodato started in 70 of 71 games played, recording 24 goals (6 game-winners), 14 assists for 62 points, going a perfect 8-for-8 in penalty kicks.
 
Newcomers:
• Detroit Mercy has a diverse group of 14 newcomers, with five transfers in Izzy Rener (Saint Francis), sister tandem of sophomore Jojo Mondoux (Kent State) and graduate student Avery Mondoux (Nicholls State), junior Kayla Duane (Franklin Pierce), and graduate student Katy Layman (Virginia Military Institute).
 
• UDM also added a total of nine freshmen in Adey Avey, Scarlet Enskat, Gabriella Gojcaj, Ellera Jakubowski, Evangeline Lulgjuraj, Ciana Robillard, Samantha Sackfield, Lydia Smucker, and Elise Veale, who will look to make an immediate impact.
 
Made in the Mitten:
Detroit Mercy has 15 student-athletes from the state of Michigan
 
Where You From?:
• The Titans also have eight student-athletes from outside the state of Michigan.
• Ohio (3): Junior Teagan Ferrington, junior Natalie Dye, Lydia Smucker
• New York (2): Jojo Mondoux and Avery Mondoux
• Indiana (1): Adey Avey
• Wisconsin (1): Kayla Duane
• Virginia (1): Katy Layman
 
International Flavor:
• The squad also has five international student-athletes.
 
Across the Pond:
• Sophomores Brogan Hughes and Elicia Clarkson come to the squad from England.
 
O' Canada:
• Junior Mya Mascaro, Ciana Robillard, and Elise Veale are the three student-athletes from Canada.
 
2026 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll:
• Detroit Mercy was picked to finish 11th in the 2026 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll with 26 points.
• For the first time since the 2017 season, UDM was picked to finish third in the 2025 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll, receiving 98 points and one first-place vote after finishing third in 2024 at 7-1-2 in conference play. However, the team finished the 2025 season in last place with an 0-7-3 mark.
 
Return of the MAC:
• Detroit Mercy will compete against four schools from the Mid-American Conference (MAC): Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, BGSU, and Toledo.
• Additionally, the Titans played an exhibition against Central Michigan (8/8).