DETROIT (10/21/18) -- Sophomore Kelli Doyle's first goal of the season was the difference Sunday afternoon as the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team shutout Youngstown State, 1-0, on Senior Day.

Detroit Mercy (7-7-3, 3-4-1 HL) has now won four straight games, all via shutouts, its longest winning streak since 2016. The win also kept the Titans alive for a playoff spot in the Horizon League Championship with one game left in the regular season. Detroit Mercy is currently tied for fifth place with IUPUI with 10 points, while Oakland and UIC are right behind them with nine and all four teams have one game left. 

Prior to the game, the Titans honored their nine-member senior class in Caitlin Carroll, Carly Fiorido, Elizabeth Gonser, Sarah Hirschmann, Molly Kane, Marina Manzo, Kelsey Mendez, Chloe Ricciardi and Aubree Snow.

Doyle's goal came in the 6th minute on a header as the ball deflected off a defender and into the net. Freshman Julie Ann Piechocki earned the assist, lofting the ball into the box on a corner kick.

The Titans dominated possession throughout the first half, resulting in the only goal of the game. Youngstown State (1-13-3, 0-7-1 HL) had several scoring chances after halftime, but Manzo kept the Penguins out of the net with a pair of saves. 

Manzo had two saves in the win and is now one shy of the century mark on the season.

Youngstown State outshot Detroit Mercy 7-5 but the Titans had the edge in goals (1-0), corner kicks (3-2) and fouls (5-9).

Detroit Mercy will end the regular season at Wright State on Friday night with kick-off slated for 7 p.m. 

First Half:

• The Titans were clicking offensively throughout the first half, earning corner kicks in the 5th and 26th minute, the former resulting in the only goal of the game
• Both of Detroit Mercy's shot attempts were on goal
• Youngstown State outshot Detroit Mercy 3-2, but none of the Penguins shots landed on goal
• Penguins' goaltender Kate McEachern made the lone save of the half, deflecting a shot by Piechocki in the 26th minute

Second Half:

• Detroit Mercy came out strong after halftime and earned its lone corner kick of the second half in the 48th minute
• The Titans had several chances to increase their lead with shots in the 58th, 66th and 73rd minutes, but none of them landed on goal
• Youngstown State attempted its two corner kicks of the game in the 69th minute, with both occurring in a matter of 17 seconds
• The Penguins kept Manzo busy in the second half, as two of their five second-half shots landed on goal. The senior keeper stopped both attempts, including one in the 87th minute to preserve Detroit Mercy's 1-0 lead

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy improves to 20-1 all-time against Youngstown State and remained undefeated in the Motor City, winning all nine meetings with the Penguins ay Titan Field
• The Titans won their third straight game by a 1-0 score during this four-game winning streak
• Doyle scored her first goal of the season, after totaling four goals as a freshman in 2017
• Doyle's last goal came last year at Cleveland State
• Piechocki's impressive debut season rolls on as she now has five assists and 13 points on the year and has a team-high five points in conference play
• Manzo is now tied for first in school history with Nora Abolins (2010-12) with 24 career shutouts, while her 99 saves on the year is tied for fifth in a single season at Detroit Mercy

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