Box Score

In interim head coach Nick Deren's debut and behind a two-goal effort from sophomore Sam Seppo (Port Huron, MI/Port Huron), the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team captured a 3-1 victory over visiting Buffalo Friday afternoon at Titan Field.

With the score tied at one, Seppo received a pass from freshman Pat Lepera (Windsor, ON/St. Joseph's Catholic) at the right side of the box. Seppo then took a shot and saw it trickle past the goal line into the left corner of the net at the 68:42 mark for the game-winning goal and his third of the season.

"It felt so good to score today,” said Seppo. “I felt like I got a monkey off my back because I have been missing finishes this season."

Sophomore Mike Chiandussi (Windsor, ON/Windsor) tacked on another goal for the Titans in the 74th minute after he faked a shot in front of the net, pulled to the left and chipped it softly to the left of UB freshman netminder Ryan Lewis into the center of the net for his first goal wearing a Detroit uniform. Sophomore Nate Robinson (Novi, MI/Novi) earned an assist on the play for his first of the 2009 campaign.

"I felt we were the better team today,” commented Deren. “We have played this way in a lot of games this year, but the difference today was the goals went in for our goal scorers where they have not in other games.

"Hopefully this is the start of some good things for us; it definitely feels good to win this game."

Buffalo's lone goal of the game came as junior Mike Unwin beat a defender one-on-one and scored in the lower left corner of the net at the 8:01 mark. Seppo tied the game as he received a pass from Chiandussi down the right side and Seppo then beat the defender and his shot went to the left of Lewis in the 32nd minute.

Freshman Brandon Waterstradt (Dearborn Heights, MI/Catholic Central) collected four saves and allowed one goal in 90 minutes of action, while Lewis allowed all three Detroit goals, but tallied five saves on the afternoon.

Shots were fairly even on the day, but Buffalo had a slight 11-10 advantage over UDM, but Detroit took six corner kicks to the Bulls' four.

There was an interruption in the game as with just under 18 minutes remaining in the first half, play had to be delayed after lightning was spotted.

The Titans will return to action when they host Horizon League member school Wright State on Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.