Gametracker

The 2010 women's soccer season officially kicks off tomorrow as the Detroit Titans make the short trip to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines. The game, scheduled for 7:00 p.m., is also the first of the year for U-M, who will open its brand new soccer complex.

Fans that can't make it out to the game to support the Titans can view a live stats feed by clicking here.

“It is going to be a big challenge for us but that is why they are on the schedule,” said head coach Mike Lupenec. “I want to put these kids in a tough environment. It is the first game in their new stadium and if they can compete in that atmosphere that will just get them ready for the Horizon League.”

Detroit is 2-5 all-time against Michigan, but the last time these two teams squared off was at the NCAA Tournament in 2004 in Columbus, Ohio, as the red, white and blue shocked the Big Ten school with a 3-2 victory in the first round.

In that contest, Allison Epple opened the scoring off a penalty kick at the 13:24 mark. Kathy Banjavcic then notched two first half goals to give UDM a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the intermission. Alisson Dube made that hold up with nine saves and Detroit would advance to play Ohio State in round two.

UDM's other win in the series came in 1995 when the Titans edged the maize and blue at home, 2-1.

Season Preview 

Growing pains were an issue for the Detroit Titans women's soccer team last year as a young Titan squad went through some hardships both offensively and in the win column. But a year a later, those freshmen and sophomores now have a full season behind them, even two, and with the start of a new campaign, expectations are starting to rise for the red, white and blue.

“Goaltending and goal scoring is the key to any team and I believe we have that this year,” said head coach Mike Lupenec as he enters his 18th season at the helm of the Titans. “Sometimes, I think you have to fall down a hill in order to get hungry again and so far, this team looks like they are ready to go out there and compete.”

The Titans return 12 letterwinners, including an experienced backline that will guide UDM as its young scoring unit takes shape. Three former All-Horizon League Newcomer team members are also back in senior Alauna Pierce, junior Alexandra Suschak and sophomore Nina Carter, not to mention the dean of all HL coaches in Lupenec, the only Titan coach in school history.

“I think the junior class is as good as we have had here and with their leadership and work ethic, we will turn things around,” said Lupenec. “They have a bit of a sour taste in their mouth and as a staff, we do too. We all want to get back to winning and I really believe the junior class with the team chemistry they have built, can get us back in the thick of things.”

Goalkeepers 

There was a great deal of competition for the starting spot in the net as junior Joanna Hinde and freshmen Nora Abolins and Emily Oberheim fought for the right to start the year as the Titan goalkeeper. Abolins emerged from the unit as the starter heading into the first week of play, but with three talented net minders on the roster, the push for the starting job will be on display at every practice.

“I feel Nora has more experience and is very calm out there,” said Lupenec. “She is also good with her feet and can pass the ball. I just feel that the team has really responded with Nora as the starter, but both Emily and Joanna are right there practicing hard every day.”

Abolins was a rising star on the club level in Ontario with the Toronto Junior Lady Lynx and was part of the Olympic Development program, while Oberheim was a two-time All-District and an All-Region performer in her last two years of high school. Hinde is coming off a season in which she led the Horizon League with 99 saves as a sophomore and has over 150 career stops, including seven shutouts, to her credit.

“Good teams have good goalkeepers and one of the things we wanted to do was improve every area in competition and with three goalies here constantly pushing each other, that is just going to make us a better team,” added Lupenec.

Defense 

The strength of the Titan team returns virtually intact with the defensive backfield thanks to senior Alauna Pierce and juniors Alexandra Suschak and Alyssa Korson. Suschak, who has two goals and three assists in her career, was named to the All-Newcomer team as a freshman and last year took home Titan Defensive Player of the Year and Team MVP honors. Pierce was also a member of the HL All-Newcomer team as a sophomore and Korson has started every game in the last two years for UDM, adding a marker and three helpers from the back.

“I think Alauna and Alexandra are two of the best center backs in the league and I feel they have been over looked and do not get the credit they deserve,” said Lupenec. “If you look at our team last year, we didn't give up that many goals and they are two of the biggest reasons why our defense stands out.”

The defense doesn't stop there as junior Rebecca Pidgeon, who notched a pair of goals as a sophomore, is back to add more game experience as well as sophomores Mary Leone, Rebekah Dornbos and Sarah Dzuris, who will rotate between the midfield and backline. Newcomer Jessica LaBond, who knows a thing or two about good defense after playing at Lake Orion on a Dragons squad that allowed just 17 goals in the last two years (33 games), was also brought in to add depth.

“I really like the way Mary has looked in camp in the right full back position. Her fitness level and aggressiveness has definitely improved and her ability to deliver the diagonal ball in the air makes her a great fit for that spot.”

Forward 

Along with the midfield, the forward position needs to find the back of the net more often for the Titans to turn their fortune around and the 2010 team does have some good young scoring options. Sophomore Nina Carter, an All-Horizon League Newcomer honoree as a rookie, returns as the leading goal scorer with three tallies a year ago. Junior Alison Suschak is back with a goal and four assists in her career and sophomore Janae Paveglio will drop down to the unit as well.

“I think we will look for the sophomores to take charge more as they have a year under their belt and understand what Division I soccer is all about,” said Lupenec. “With Nina and some of our newcomers, we now have the speed to get behind teams and break down a team defense. We saw that in our exhibitions against two good MAC schools and now we just have to finish those scoring chances. ”

Freshman Kaitlyn Quarrell was also brought in to add athleticism to the team and will see time at both the midfield and the forward slot. Newcomers Megan McLalin and Abby McCollum are also two freshmen who are coming off great prep careers, with McCollum netting 80 goals in her career, including 40 as a senior.

“Kaitlyn has quick feet and is skilled and I believe she can be one of the best players in the conference and one of the best players I have ever recruited,” said Lupenec. “Once Abby catches on to the speed of college soccer, she will be a real force for us.”

Midfield 

If the Titans are going to turn it around offensively, the midfield will be a big key to the Detroit success as the unit returns a lot of experienced players. Lauren Roffey has played in all 36 games in her Titan career, with 35 starts, and is primed to breakout in her junior season. Senior Archana Wadhawan, and second-year players, Dornbos, Dzuris and Paveglio all saw action in a majority of the season last year, with Leone starting 15 contests and Dornbos and Dzuris getting the starting assignment on 12 occasions.

Dzuris netted two goals as a rookie and Roffey has a goal and an assist in her career, but that is all the points the members of the midfield have in their careers. McLalin will also get a look at the midfield slot.

“Megan and Sarah will be more of a defensive midfield for us as we will move Lauren to move of an offensive position,” Lupenec said. “It will give Lauren more of a role in the offense. She is a great passer and also a good shooter and with her, Nina, Kaitlyn and Janae, we will have more fire power then we have had in the past.”