2013 Gameday Central
DETROIT (8/31/2013) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team will wrap up its two-game west coast swing with a match-up against the San Francisco Dons on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (ET). On Friday in the other contest in the Golden State, UDM fell 2-1 to California ranked No. 18 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.
Gameday Central
Titan fans can follow every UDM game this season through Women's Soccer Gameday Central, located on the Titans Athletic Website that will keep fans one click away from all the action. This page will feature links for live stats (audio and video when applicable) as well as links for all the latest info while also making it easy to find the Titans on social media and to purchase photos. Women's Soccer Gameday Central also carries all the information on each opponent from who is leading the all-time series to who won the last game.
First Look
The Titans will be up against two new opponents this weekend. Detroit last went to California in 2010 for two games at San Diego State, playing to a 1-1 draw, before falling at Pepperdine by a 4-0 score. Detroit also played at UC Irvine in 2008 (L 0-1), at Loyola Marymount (L 0-2) and at Pepperdine (L 0-3) in 2004, and will be looking for its first win in the Golden State after five games.
In the Books
UDM has played two games already this season falling 3-2 at Eastern Michigan last Friday to start the year and then battling to a 2-2 draw at Central Michigan this past Sunday. In both games, the Titans scored first and the opposing team responded. In the contest at EMU, the Eagles came back with two goals and won the game where at CMU, UDM held on for the draw.
It Takes Two
Two is a popular number early on as the Titans have played two games and scored two goals in each of them. Two players have accounted for all the scoring early on as junior Haley Burtraw had two markers Friday at Eastern Michigan and freshman Anna Mindling tallied two at Central Michigan on Sunday. Detroit has also used two goalies this season and will look for both to help the Titans in 2013.
Inside the Crease
Detroit has used both sophomore Martha Dunbar and freshman Laura Taylor in goal so far this season. Dunbar started at EMU on Friday and allowed three goals, while Taylor started the game at CMU on Sunday. Taylor played the first half and then gave way to Dunbar, who played the rest of the day including the two overtime periods.
Fearless Freshman
Freshman Anna Mindling scored the first two goals of her collegiate career Sunday at Central Michigan. Mindling tallied her first at 9:19 of the first half and added another at the 80:20 mark. Both goals gave UDM the lead, but CMU came back both times to even the game. Mindling provided quality minutes in both contests last weekend and was moved into the starting lineup on Sunday responding with the two goals.
Titans are the Early Favorite
The Titans will have new pressure this season after being picked as the team to win the Horizon League in a poll conducted by the HL coaches. The poll results break a streak of 13-straight years that Milwaukee has been picked first. 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).
Da Bears
The California Golden Bears are currently ranked No. 18 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings. California is 1-0-1 in 2013 after starting the season with a 3-1 win at UC Irvine on Aug. 23. The Bears then played at Pepperdine on Monday with the end result a 1-1 draw. Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick leads the team with two goals, including the game-winner against Irvine, and senior goalkeeper Emily Kruger has played every minute of the season in net allowing just two goals. Last year, the Bears were 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the PAC-12, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to San Diego State 2-1.
The San Francisco Dons
San Francisco is 1-0 after a 2-0 home victory on Aug. 25 over the University of Nevada. Mackenzie Krieser scored on a header taking a pass from Abigail Phillips before Lexi Krueger had the game-winning goal in the 30th minute in the season-opening win. Madalyn Schiffel played 90 minutes making four saves for San Francisco. The Dons will host San Jose State on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (ET) before welcoming UDM on Sunday afternoon. USF was 7-8-4 overall last season with a 2-5-1 record in the West Coast Conference.
What's Next
The Titans will return back East following the California trip, but will still have three road contests before opening up at home against Bowling Green on Sept. 17. UDM will head to Buffalo, N.Y., to play at Canisius on Sept. 6 before two big non-conference match-ups at Notre Dame on Sept. 8 and then at Michigan on Sept. 12.
Social Media
Titan fans, don't forget to follow #DetroitsCollegeTeam on Twitter and Instagram at @DetroitTitans and remember to like the Titans on Facebook. During games, look for
