Tough pre-season toughens Titans for league competition

The Titans host Cleveland State Sunday at Titan Field. Photo courtesy of UDM Sports Info

BY ELISE PANNEMANN / VN STAFF WRITER

The Titans open the women’s soccer conference season this week, hoping to improve on their 1-6 pre-season record.

The women kicked off with a game against Eastern Michigan on Aug. 12, losing 4-0.

They were able to pick things back up Aug. 15 against Siena Heights, taking home the win, 3-1.

The Titans continued their fight this season as they faced off against some tough schools. 

“We played some really strong teams, like Michigan state and Notre Dame, and we really had to take a step back and figure out what needs to be done,” said Jazmine Scott, a sophomore goalkeeper. “Because of this, I feel really good about conference knowing that we pushed ourselves and have set a standard to compete every time we step on the field.”

Scott, in her second year at Detroit Mercy, has been playing soccer since she was 5, “so it’s been around 13 years, soon to be 14,” she said.

This season is an exciting one for Scott.

During her freshman year, she only started in one game.

“Now in my sophomore year, I have played three games before our regular games even started,” she said.

Maybe it’s all the dedication that Scott and the rest of the team has put into their practices that, despite the rocky preseason, has Scott so confident that the rest of the season will be a success.

“There are two things that I really try to focus on when preparing for a game, drinking lots of water and getting at least eight hours of sleep,” said Scott. “Usually on game days, music always helps me stay in a calm state, and I prefer to stay mindful and focused rather then get loud and pumped.”

The Titans have great aspirations for this season.

Senior defensive player Madelyn Rush said making the Horizon League Tournament is the main goal.

“In my years at UDM I have never been able to attend (the tournament) so I hope this year is different,” she said.

For the seniors, this is their last chance to make the tournament and leave their mark at the university.

“It is a super bitter-sweet moment,” said midfielder Julie Ann Piechocki. “I am so proud of my classmates for making it to this milestone, but I am sad to see it come to an end” for the seniors.

Win or lose, whether they make it to the tournament, seniors like Rush and Piechoki leave their mark one way by being positive influences on their younger teammates, like Scott.