Roffey’s First Career Hat Trick Leads Titans Over Eastern Michigan

BOX SCORE

DETROIT -- Senior Lauren Roffey (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) registered her first career hat trick as the Titans (1-1-0) captured a 4-0 victory over Eastern Michigan (0-1-1) Tuesday afternoon. Roffey's first of three goals came at 16:25 in the first half which was the eventual game winner for Detroit.

Goals four, five, and six of Roffey's collegiate soccer career helped the Titans record their second highest scoring total ever against Eastern Michigan.

“One was off a set piece and there was a header and I was in the right spot. For the second, Abby hit it across the box and I was in the right spot again and the other one was off a corner and I was aggressive and made a cut around [the defender] and I put it in,” said Roffey on her goals.

With the all-time series now even at 6-6-4, Detroit's highest goal output in the series was a 7-3 over EMU in 1995.

While Roffey was scoring goals, sophomore goalkeeper Nora Abolins (Demorestville, ON/Centennial) was stopping them making three saves for her ninth career victory. Fellow sophomore Abby McCollum (La Salle, MI/Monroe) also played well adding a career high three assists in 53 minutes off the bench. McCollum ended last year's 1-0 Titan win over EMU in the first overtime period with a goal from just outside the 18-yard box.

“We finished and played with some passion today. I felt we did well overall and Nora made some good saves for us too. This first win of the season is a big confidence booster for us and we just need to build on it heading into our next game and continue to improve,” said head coach Mike Lupenec.

The Titans made it 1-0 as junior Rebekah Dornbos (Midland, MI/Midland) took a corner kick and McCollum headed it right to Roffey who tapped it in the net.

Junior Sarah Dzuris (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) recorded the second Detroit tally at 30:41 on a nicely played ball from McCollum that Dzuris took just outside the six-yard box and one-timed it in the back of the net.

The third goal was the result of nifty plays from three Titans. Sophomore Kaitlyn Quarrell (Thunder Bay, ON/St. Ignatisius) first broke in from the left side and played a quick ball past a defender to McCollum who then crossed it to Roffey who netted her second of the day. The final goal was also off a Dornbos corner as the ball bounced around in the box making its way to McCollum who found Roffey.

“Today was a good game because it was our highest scoring output in a game that counts for our record and it helps as we're always getting ready for the Horizon League games,” added Roffey.

Detroit will not play at Titan Field again until Sept. 8 against Madonna as the Titans will play at IUPUI this Friday, at Bowling Green on Sunday, and at local rival Marygrove next Wednesday.

 -Detroit Titans-