Erica Toupin leaving an impact in final season at UDM

Detroit Mercy forward Erica Toupin runs for the ball against Bowling Green State University, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Bowling Green, OH.

Graduate senior Erica Toupin is off to a hot start for the University of Detroit Mercy’s women’s soccer team.  

Soccer is a big part of her life, and it shows. This season, she has 12 points through 15 games, despite logging just two starts. 

Big things were expected after 2023, when Toupin was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Team for the second consecutive season. Additionally, she scored her second goal of the season and assisted on the game-winning goal, recording three points in the Titans’ 2-1  win over Youngstown State.  

Toupin’s soccer journey started when she was about four years old, and her parents signed her up for a recreational league.  

“I remember loving it enough that my parents put me on a travel soccer team called Northville Rush,” Toupin said. 

In hopes of expanding her capabilities, she switched club teams to the Michigan Jaguars. It provided a higher level of competition.  

At first, Toupin contemplated whether she wanted to play soccer in college. In her senior year of high school, she made the decision to continue her journey.  

“This is very late for girls’ soccer in general… considering all of my friends who played soccer in high school had already committed long before the start of their senior year,” Toupin said “I did not have a strong desire for it until I realized that it was not something I wanted to give up just yet.”  

UDM’s head coach, Steve Shelton, set up a visit for her to the college. Ultimately, she decided to commit to Detroit Mercy because of her past experiences with Coach Shelton.  

“Coach Steve was ironically one of my coaches at Rush for a short period of time, which is how I knew him throughout the entirety of my career as a soccer player,” she said.  

Throughout her time at UDM, Toupin has become more confident in her scoring abilities. When she gets the chance to score, she takes it.  

“The biggest thing for Erica has been her experience and leadership,” Shelton said. “We knew she had great ability as a finisher around the box.” 

On and off the field, she is committed and strives to encourage her teammates. Adriana Mroz, who plays alongside Toupin, has experienced this firsthand.  

“Erica motivates our team; specifically in difficult situations she is the leading voice in supporting everyone on the field and maintaining the composure that can sometimes be lost in the field,” Mroz said. 

It is noted that Toupin full-heartedly embodies optimism with herself while instilling it into her teammates.  

“Erica is always positive and encouraging,” Shelton said. “There are going to be highs and lows to every season, the trick is to not get too high or too low. I think her positivity helps give the team balance and keeps us on the right track. She doesn’t get down if she’s not starting or not playing as many minutes, she just focuses on what the team needs and playing her role to the best of her ability. I think as a senior and a captain this sets the example for everyone else to do the same.” 

Needless to say. Toupin’s fiery start to the season is fueled by her over-flowing positivity that inspires her teammates.

 With that attitude, it is likely that this promising start to the season will prevail.