DETROIT (8/26/18) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team and senior captain Carly Fiorido created a dramatic atmosphere in their 2018 home opener at Titan Field, with Fiorido scoring the game's only goal with 21 seconds left in a 1-0 win over visiting Central Michigan.

On a sunny and humid Sunday afternoon, the game was wide open for both teams. The Titans possessed out of the gate, but were unable to make anything happen offensively in the early minutes of the game. 

The Chippewas stuck to their counter attacking strategy but the sound defense of the Titans was up to the challenge the entire day. 

The best scoring opportunity of the first half came when sophomore Kelli Doyle received a ball on her right foot just on top of the 18-yard box. She drove her foot through the ball, but the Chippewa goalkeeper was up to the challenge, going down low and collecting the shot for one of her three saves on the day. 

The weather was so humid that the referees mandated a water break at the halfway point of each half, ensuing the safety of the players.  

After one half of play, the game remained scoreless. Both teams came out the same positionally in the second half, but the tactics changed for each. The game opened up greatly and scoring opportunities became easier to come by for both teams. 

Each team had good scoring chances in the last five minutes of the game, as both pushed for a late winner, but it was the Titans that came up on the winning end this time. 

With :21 seconds left, freshman Nasreen Kobeissi was dragged down just outside the 18-yard box, earning a free kick for the Titans. 

Fiorido stepped over the ball with extreme composure, and drove the ball around the wall and tucked it neatly inside the far post, claiming victory for the Titans in their home opener. 

Manzo collected two saves on her way to her first clean sheet of the season in net for the red, white and blue. 

The Titans are back in action on Thursday, August 30 at University of South Florida down in Tampa, Fla. 

First Half

• The Titans first shot on goal came off the head of Doyle early in the first half
• The red, white and blue held possession for a majority of the first half
• The Titans had a long opportunity as Doyle booted a ball that the goalie corralled low to her right
• Manzo tallied one save in the period

Second Half

• Central Michigan put one more shot on net in the second half that Manzo turned away
• The Titans went the entirety of the game without a corner kick
• The Titans tallied the winning goal with a mere :20 left in the contest

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy trails the overall series 3-8-5
• Fiorido tallied her second career goal, first since 2016 in the victory over Northwood
• It was Manzo's 18th career shutout
• The Titans have won their home opener for the first time since beating Bowling Green, 3-0, in 2013

#SCtop10 as senior Carly Fiorido scores the game-winner with less than 20 seconds left to give the Titans a 1-0 win over in-state rival Central Michigan #DetroitsCollegeTeam #HLWSOC @NCAASoccer @Jamie_Edmonds pic.twitter.com/qmzJ7ujtEv

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