Horizon League Release
2013 UDM Women's Soccer Schedule
2013 TopDrawerSoccer.com Horizon League Info
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INDIANAPOLIS (8/14/2013) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team was picked to finish in first place in the Horizon League Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' poll which was released Wednesday morning. The coaches in the league were the voters in the poll with coaches not allowed to vote for their own teams.
This marks the second straight year the Titans were picked to finish first but this year the team has been picked to win outright. Last season, UDM was chosen to finish in a tie for first with Milwaukee but had fewer first place votes than Milwaukee. This year, Detroit garnered six of seven first place votes for 47 overall points. Wright State was second with one first place vote and 38 points with five-time Horizon League women's soccer defending champion Milwaukee taking the other first place vote and 36 points. Horizon League newcomer Oakland was picked fourth (32) followed by Valparaiso (31), Youngstown State (16), Green Bay (15), and Cleveland State (9). In fact, Milwaukee has been voted first place for the past 13 years by the coaches in the preseason poll.
"It is an honor for us to be thought of so highly among the Horizon League coaches but we have not won anything at this point and we have to work harder than ever to achieve our goals," said UDM women's soccer head coach Mike Lupenec who is in his 21st year and is the only head coach in the history of Detroit women's soccer. "This poll puts a lot of pressure on us but we ultimately have to come out and play well and avoid injuries to finish atop a difficult conference."
The Titans finished 2012 with a 9-7-1 overall record including a 5-2 mark in conference play. The 2012 squad earned a share of the regular season championship and was the No. 2 seed entering the conference tournament. However, each of the last three years has seen Detroit fall in the semifinals.
Detroit allowed a Titan single-season low 12 goals from opponents and just three in the conference with shutouts against Green Bay, Loyola, Wright State, Cleveland State and Youngstown State. Lupenec has eight newcomers and 15 letter winners returning in 2013 that will seek a berth in the championship match for the first time since 2006 and for its third overall championship (1995, 2004).
UDM will host two more exhibitions prior to the start of the 2013 season on Aug. 23 at 5:00 p.m. at Eastern Michigan. The Titans will host Toledo Friday at 3:00 p.m. and alumni will be welcomed back to Titan Field on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. game. All home men's and women's soccer games played at Titan Field in 2013 will have FREE ADMISSION.
2013 Horizon League Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Detroit (6) – 47
2. Wright State (1) – 38
3. Milwaukee (1) – 36
4. Oakland – 32
5. Valparaiso – 31
6. Youngstown State – 16
7. Green Bay – 15
8. Cleveland State – 9
