Women's Soccer Preview, Part 7: Detroit
Aug. 21, 2006
Coming off of a second straight season of double-digit wins and a third straight appearance in the Horizon League Championship match, the 2006 Titan women's soccer team has unfinished business coming into the new season - Reclaiming the Horizon League title and returning to the NCAA College Cup.
"I think last year left a bad taste in the mouths of our returning players," said head coach Mike Lupenec. "We were right there again, on the doorstep of going back to the NCAAs and just came up short. Using what we learned last year will help us this season to get back into the College Cup."
Detroit returns 15 letterwinners from a season ago and Lupenec, the 2005 Horizon League Coach of the Year, has brought in seven newcomers in mount a return to the league finals for a fourth straight season and a second NCAA run in three seasons.
The Schedule
The Titans, who open the season at Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 25, will face a daunting non-conference slate before kicking off the challenging Horizon League schedule.
Overall, Detroit will face four first time opponents and a pair of teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The 18 game regular-season features eight home games at the friendly confines of Titan Field or as it is more widely known - "The Monster". In addition to the home slate, the Titans take a trip to Hawaii for the first time in program history.
After opening up the season at EKU and facing off with in-state Mid-American Conference members Central Michigan (Sept. 1) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 5), Detroit opens up the home portion of the schedule with another MAC squad, Toledo (Sept. 8).
A mid-week trip to East Lansing to face off with Michigan State (Sept. 12) followed by a visit from Saginaw Valley State (Sept. 17), the Titans will take to the skies and fly to Honolulu to take part in the OHANA Hotels and Resorts Soccer Invitational. Detroit faces off with the host Rainbow Wahine (Sept. 21) and Cal State Northridge (Sept. 23) on the trip to the "Big Island".
The League slate opens up on Sept. 28 against Cleveland State and continues at home with Loyola (Oct. 1) and Butler (Oct. 8) before closing out on the road with matches at Youngstown State (Oct. 13), Milwaukee (Oct. 20), Green Bay (Oct. 22) and Wright State (Oct. 25).
The Horizon League Tournament has a new format this season with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal action on Oct. 28, followed by the winners advancing to the site of the highest remaining seed for the semi-finals and finals on Nov. 3 and 5.
Goalkeeper
Detroit returns both keepers who saw time last season. Sophomore Katie Fortenberry returns after setting a new school record with nine shutouts last year, her first on the active roster. Joining Fortenberry is fellow sophomore Jessica Gasior who saw time in one game last year when Fortenberry was injured at Loyola.
New to the mix is Ontario native Emily Gillet. The 5-10 newcomer led her Catholic Central Secondary squad to a London City Championship and brings a new dimension to the position with her length.
Defense
The biggest question for 2006 may be who will play directly in front of the keepers.
The defense at the beginning of last season was a balance of youth and experience and the same can be said again for 2006. Senior Allie Bullard returns for her fourth season on the backline and is coming off of a Second Team All-League selection last season. Joining Bullard is fellow returning starter Melanie Slusher. The sophomore defender started all 18 games she appeared in as a true freshman. The duo helped anchor a backline that produced a school record nine shuouts.
Lupenec will look to junior Liz Hardy and freshman Alauna Pierce to possibly fill the voids left by the loss of Allison Epple (four-time All-League) and Blair Gilleland ( 2005 All-Newcomer Team). Sophomore Lauren Moss, who started the final five games of last season and nine overall, could also fill in the defensive line after being a four-time All-State pick there at Bishop Foley High Scbool, but is fighting a leg injury and may miss the season.
Junior Stacy Armstrong, who started on the right side as a freshman in 2004 could also come back to the defensive unit. Sophomore Shelley Marick and freshman Sarah Habbo could also figure into the mix here.
Midfield
One thing is for sure when it comes to the middle of the field - You can find All-America candidate Mary Parker there. The 2004 League Player of the Year and two-time All-Region selection returns for her fourth season after leading the league in goals, game winning goals and points for the second straight season in 2005.
Joining Parker is a host of players, including All-Tournament team selection Nicole Gipson and redshirt freshman Trina Kochanski. Gipson tied for the team lead with four assists and started all 19 games in her first season in the 313. Kochanski missed 2005 after having ACL surgery earlier that spring. A healthy Kochanski will be counted on for big things in 2006.
A trio of newcomers - Jessica Watton, Jenny Whaley and Andrea DiPace, along with seniors Alex Moraca and Jaclyn Thomas and junior Megan Canty will also factor into the mix this season. Moraca appeared in all 19 matches and scored her first goal in the season opener against DePaul. Thomas returned to the team after missing 2004 recovering from ACL surgery. Canty, who started five games as a freshman, appeared in 15 games last year. DiPace was an All-State selection coming out of Chippewa Valley HS in 2005 and Whaley netted 100 goals for Trenton HS in an outstanding four year career that saw her bring home four All-State selections.
Forward
Injuries hit the forward position hard in 2005 with the loss of Emily Kiely just 10 games into the season with a torn ACL. Kiely, who had surgery in November may miss the 2006 season while recovering and that leaves a hole up front for Lupenec.
Trying to fill that hole are sophomores Marick, Rachel Stesney and freshmen Jenelle Niles, DiPace and Whaley. Marick started all 19 games last season, seeing time all over the field, but mainly in the front. Stesney scored a goal and added four assists in 2005 and will once again be counted on to provide a scoring threat up top. Whaley was a prolific scorer in high school and will be tested early to see if that can carry over to the college game. Niles led her club team to numerous tournament titles and will be given a long look up front.
The 2006 version of the Titans returns talent and has brought in a wealth of newcomers who can contribute right away. How well this group gels and how quickly it comes together as a team will dictate its success.
Story provided by UDM Office of Sports Information
