Box Score

Behind a two-goal effort from senior Nick Dreshaj and a game-winning goal from senior Ken Simon, the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team captured a 3-2 overtime victory against Bowling Green Tuesday afternoon at Cochrane Field.

In the 98th minute, Detroit sophomore Nate Robinson (Novi, MI/Novi) took a corner kick and sophomore Otieno Victor (Kisumu Nyanza, Kenya/Kakamega) flicked it with his head and Simon then took a shot, which went over the goal line for the game-winner and his second of the season.

“I saw a big opportunity with the ball being flicked by Victor and it felt good to be able to finish a set piece, especially for the game-winner,” said Simon. “I was proud of the guys to play hard the second half and overcome a 2-0 deficit.”

At the 73:50 mark, Victor slid the ball across from the right of the net and Dreshaj one-timed it and his shot hit the cross bar and ended up in the center of the net to tie the game at two.

Less than two minutes earlier, Titan senior Ali Youssef (Canton, MI/Plymouth) took a free kick in front of Detroit's bench and Dreshaj headed the ball in to give UDM its first goal of the game.

“We came out very flat in the first half and we had a lot to prove in the second,” commented Dreshaj. “We came out strong after halftime and kept fighting because we did not want to settle for anything else than a win.

“I also thought Martin saved us more than anyone else on the field and he deserves full credit for helping secure the win.”

In the 27th minute, BGSU senior Cameron Hepple beat out a Detroit defender and ended up one-on-one with Detroit freshman netminder Martin Robertson (Newmarket, ON/St. Andrew's College), but was able to pass Robertson and his shot went into the lower right corner of the net. Junior Dusko Topolic earned an assist on the play.

Less than 25 seconds later, Falcon senior Jacob Lawrence was to the right of the net about five yards out and took a shot which traveled past the goal line into the right corner of the net.

“We started off very slow today and conceded two first-half goals, but we made some adjustments at halftime and the guys executed those adjustments brilliantly to get back in the game,” said interim head coach Nick Deren. “I think Martin (Robertson) saved the game on three different occasions with point blank saves, which kept us in the game to an eventual victory.”

Robertson tallied nine saves in his first collegiate start in net and allowed two goals, while BGSU freshman goalkeeper Dylan Schoettley collected five saves and allowed three Detroit goals.

BGSU (2-12-3) had a 26-17 advantage in shots and also took nine corner kicks to UDM's five.

Detroit (4-12-1) will close out its 2009 campaign on Saturday against UIC at Titan Field. Seniors Dreshaj and Youssef will be honored prior to the noon kick-off for all of their hard work and dedication to the Titan soccer program.