BOX SCORE

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A wet and cool affair was the scene in East Lansing as a hard-fought battle led to overtime. Freshman Alyssa Riley (Whitby, ON/Father Leo J. Austin) forced the extra session tying the game 3-3 in the last minute of regulation at 89:12, but Michigan State (7-1) prevailed 4-3 over Detroit (6-3-1) on a late goal scored with 3:39 left in double overtime.

“Offensively we were able to hold the ball and penetrate and I think whenever you score three goals, you should win the game. We have to work on our back line and covering for each other but we were also facing a special player and an All-American,” said women's soccer head coach Mike Lupenec.

The Titans played extremely well overall against a Michigan State team whose only defeat this year came against a ranked opponent in Milwaukee in the season opener.

The Titans started out on their heels early as pressure from Michigan State led to a goal at 3:43 into the game after the Spartans slipped through the defensive backfield taking a 1-0 lead.

Detroit would calm down and have chances in the offensive zone as the Titans in the remainder of the opening half finishing with seven shots and four corner kicks to six shots and three corners for MSU. Each team was able to generate offensive opportunities and spread the field at various points as the weather contributed to slippery field conditions and created and took away offensive chances on both sides.

The Titans would get on the board late in the first half. On a corner, the goalkeeper intercepted the ball but pressure from seniors Lauren Roffey (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) and Alexandra Suschak (Broadview Heights, OH/Brecksville Broadview Heights) forced the ball loose. Alexandra found her sister Alison who took a hard shot from 12 yards out for her second tally of the year tying the game heading into the break.

The Spartan lead did not last long as sophomore Abby McCollum (La Salle, MI/Monroe) scored her fourth goal of the year on a header. Pressure from Detroit led to a quick pass game between junior Sarah Dzuris (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) and sophomore Kaitlyn Quarrell (Thunder Bay, ON/St. Ignatius). Quarrell's play to Dzuris outside the right side of the 18-yard box set up a Dzuris cross inside the six and McCollum jumped for the ball and headed it past the goalkeeper who partially made the save, but the ball trickled in tying the game 2-2.

An MSU tally made it 3-2 in the 85th minute pushing the Titans to the limit. However Detroit would not go down easy as a free kick from Dzuris 40 yards out was deflected into the net by Riley. Her sixth goal of the year at 89:12 of the second half forced the match into overtime.

“We got the free kick and Sarah [Dzuris] kicked it and it was a long ball. I rushed in and I got my toe on it and it went past the goalie,” said Riley on her goal that tied the game.

The first overtime, produced just two fouls in 10 minutes and no other stats. The final overtime period saw Spartan three-time All-American senior Laura Heyboer score her third of the day and 11th of the season in the 107th minute to seal the victory for the opposition.

The Titans never held a lead but also never trailed by more than one goal responding after each MSU tally. The Spartans finished with 20 shots, including 10 in the second half, while Detroit had 10 overall.

Sophomore goalkeeper Nora Abolins (Demorestville, ON/Centennial) made nine saves in net for Detroit including a highlight caliber diving save on an MSU shot with 31 minutes remaining in the second half. A Spartan cross created a great shot opportunity right in front of the net, but Abolins was one better on the play making the stop making the save to keep the game even at two as a great day from Abolins helped keep the match close.

The Titans will now turn to conference play with nine games remaining in the regular season schedule. The first Horizon League match comes this Sunday at Titan Field as Detroit will host Butler at 1:00 p.m.

 

-Detroit Titans-