On the final game of a four-game road trip the University of Detroit(w) Mercy women’s soccer team was unable to get on the board, suffering a 2-0 loss Friday in Mount Pleasant to Central Michigan University.

The Titans (2-4-1) struggled offensively as the Chippewas held control of the pace throughout, holding a 21-5 shot advantage, and using their speed to get back on defense and slow down UDM.

The Chippewas (5-3-0) controlled the tempo of the game throughout holding the advantage in shots, 21-5, and their speed allowed them to get back on defense and slow down the Detroit offense.

Detroit ends their first stint away from Titan Field with a 1-3-0 record. After dropping the first game of the trip, the Titans rebounded to top IPFW 2-1 Sunday, and then fell 3-1 to Michigan State Tuesday.

Freshman Laura Twidle gave the Chippewas the lead with 23:19 remaining in the first half when a throw in by Bailey Brandon from the far sideline was headed by Valerie Prause. Twidle corralled the ball and her shot snaked past several pairs of feet and into the net for her fifth goal of the season.

Ten minutes later CMU’s Stephanie Martin was headed for a one-on-one with UDM sophomore keeper Joanna Hinde (Shelby Twp., MI/Eisenhower) but sophomore Alyssa Korson (Suttons Bay, MI/Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s) had other ideas. Korson chased Martin down from behind, forcing her to pull up and send her shot wide left to keep the Detroit deficit at 1-0.

“We had no intensity in the first half,” said UDM head coach Mike Lupenec. “(Central Michigan) won every 50-50 battle. But then we started playing a 4-3-3 and started putting some pressure on them.”

After a first half in which they were outshot 13-1 the Titans had a better offensive showing in the second half, though CMU still held an 8-4 advantage. One of Detroit’s best chances came with just under 18 minutes remaining when junior Trina Kochanski (Royal Oak, MI/Kimball) got her head on a free kick by sophomore Alexandra Suschak (Brecksville, OH/Brecksville) inside the goal box, but directed the ball wide to the left.

But the CMU attack was relentless and Detroit fell behind 2-0 when defender Katie Slaughter scored a goal from 25 yards out that went just off the fingertips of a leaping Hinde and into the top right-hand corner of the net.

“I think we played even with them in the second half,” Lupenec said. “That’s an encouraging sign that we can take into our next match, and now we have a better idea of which personnel can play where.

“It seems like it’s the same players that have been showing up and giving the effort we need every day. We had contributions from more players in the second half, we need more of that.”

After four games on the road the Titans will return to Titan Field for a 4 p.m. match against the Oakland University Grizzlies Tuesday. Oakland (2-4-0) fell to the University of Michigan Wednesday before heading to DeKalb, IL Friday to face off with Northern Illinois University. Last season UDM topped the Grizzlies 2-1 in Rochester.