Women's Soccer Preview, Part 5: Detroit
Aug. 23, 2007
Collectively, the Horizon League women's soccer coaches might have breathed a sigh of relief. They might have even sent a greeting card in time for UDM's Graduation Day in May.
Seeing Mary Parker - Detroit's two-time Horizon League Player of the Year and one of its all-time great players -suit up for the last time as a Titan might have meant that much to them.
Titans head coach Mike Lupenec is quick to admit his opponents might have a point - but only to a point. Parker did figure in nearly 80 percent of the team's scoring last year and led the Horizon League in goals (17) as well as points (40) as she paced the Titans to a 10-11-0 record and their fourth straight appearance in the conference championship game. However, there's still plenty of talent remaining on the Detroit soccer roster as it enters the 2007 campaign.
"What it means," the determined Lupenec said, "is that we're going to be a different team. We won't be a team centered around one or two players this year. We'll need a total team effort - and I think we'll get one. I expect a few of the girls to make big strides and we'll be alright as long as that happens."
The only head coach in the 14 years of women's soccer at Detroit, Lupenec knows what his team's strengths will be.
"I think our defense has always been strong, and that should be the same. I think we're definitely going to have more overall speed," he noted.
"We're going to be a lot faster than we have been in the past, and that makes us a much more offensive team. Last year, we relied on Mary to carry the offensive load, but we don't need to do that any more."
A return to health for some of his players is a big reason why.
Midfielder Trina Kochanski was far from 100% for most of last season, recovering from a knee operation that caused her to miss all of her first year (2005) at UDM. And midfielder Lauren Moss and forward Emily Kiely, a pair of sophomores, never suited up last season due to injury. Their return to action will be a major plus.
Moss was second among the 2005 Titans in scoring, trailing only Parker, after netting four goals and adding a like number of assists. She was selected second-team all-conference - and was also picked to the Horizon League's All-Newcomer Team - as a rookie before sitting out all of last fall due to a quadriceps injury. Kiely, meanwhile, had two goals and seven points in just 10 games as a freshman, prior to a season-ending knee injury. Her return, too, will provide the Titan offense with a major spark.
"What you have to consider is that we have Trina, Emily, a couple of the freshmen like Rachel Bemman. They can all take the responsibility to be our goal scorers this year," Lupenec said. "We might even have Lauren up there, too, we'll see. I'm not concerned. I know we're going to still score some goals."
And, if tradition follows, the Titans will be hard to score against.
Their defense is anchored by junior goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry, who has already collected 16 shutouts in two years as a starter after one year of understudying former All-League Titan Alisson Dube. Fortenberry has proven to be a big-game goalie and has really shined in the post-season, allowing just two goals in the six Horizon League tournament games she's played as a Titan.
Fortenberry was on the field for every minute of UDM's 21 games last season, and her 2006 back-up, Jessica Gasior, will again fill the No. 2 role on the depth chart.
In front of Fortenberry, the Titans will continue to rely on a pair of steady junior defenders, Shelly Marick and Melanie Slusher. Neither is counted on for prolific offense, as they totaled just four points last season between them, but both of those Titans were voted Second-Team All-League in 2006 for their skills when the opposition had the ball.
In addition to Parker, the Titans graduated two other seniors in defender Allie Bullard and midfielders Alex Moraca and Jaclyn Thomas. Still, Detroit returns three other starters who have spent a great deal of time patrolling the middle of the field in seniors Liz Hardy and Megan Canty, plus junior Nicole Gipson. Canty is the team's leading returning scorer, having recorded eight points (one goal, six assists) a year ago. Junior midfielder Rachel Stesny, who has 10 career points to her credit after two seasons, started four times last fall, while senior Stacy Armstrong started once, and both should again see regular duty in 2007.
To go with his eight returning field players and two sophomores back from the injured list, Lupenec can also can on a cast of six talented newcomers. One, Alauna Pierce, is a small (5-2) but swift addition who figures to help after she regains her playing form following. She spent a year off from the field in 2006 while meeting eligibility requirements. The other new Titans are all freshmen.
"I think each member of our freshman class can come in right away and help us," Lupenec smiled. "They are all outstanding athletes and great soccer players."
Bemman, who played on the 2006 State Cup championship team with Vardar, is an aggressive, physical player up front. Ditto Kristen Mannino, who could play on offense or in the back, too, before the year is out. Archana Wadhawan is a versatile, clever offensive player while Laura Supplee figures to help the Titans more on defense this season. The fifth freshman, Selena Stanski is an import from Ontario, a neighboring province which also supplied two of the holdover players on the Titan roster. A skilled offensive player, Stanski's club team, the Bloomfield Force, won the Under-18 national championship this summer.
As he looks up and down his roster, Lupenec likes what he sees for the long, hard season that lies ahead.
"Every year, we try to build for the (Horizon League) tournament. That's the most important thing in our opinion. That's why we've been successful in October," Lupenec commented. "We always want to win early, too, but I don't think it's how you start the race, it's how you end the race. That's always been the attitude in our program.
"You can win in September, but if you don't get past the first round in the league tournament, then it's not really a good season. To us, tournament wins are the most important thing because that gives you an opportunity to play in the NCAA's (like the Titans did in 2004)," he added. "I think we can be a better overall team as long as we keep our people healthy. If none of our key players go down, then we'll have a good season."
Story provided by Detroit Office of Sports Information
