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DETROIT -- The men's soccer team will face the Valparaiso Crusaders on Friday night at Brown Field. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

About Detroit (4-5, 0-1 HL)
The Titans most recently defeated Western Michigan by the final score of 3-2. After getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first half the Broncos came charging back to pull within a one goal deficit. Detroit held on and recorded their first win at Titan Field this year.

Pat Lepera played an unbelievable first half against Western Michigan. The junior scored his first two goals of the season to give Detroit the lead and he was also credited with an assist on the third goal of the half. Lepera went unassisted to give Detroit the 1-0 edge, and then he put a header away off a corner kick from Jon Bowman to increase the advantage. Patrick Soltys scored the final goal of the half for Detroit off a Lepera assist. Soltys now has two goals on the season.

Lepera was able to step up his offensive production at the perfect time as Otieno Victor was unable to play on Wednesday due to an injury. Victor has played well for the Titans throughout the season as he leads the team with four goals.

Scouting Valparaiso
The Crusaders are 3-3-2 overall with a 0-0-1 mark in Horizon League play. Valpo most recently played Cleveland State to a double-overtime scoreless draw in Cleveland on Sept. 24. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck recorded his third shutout in the last four games against the Vikings. He now has four overall this season and 11 in his career. His latest shutout lowered his goals against average to 0.71, which is the best in the Horizon League and 30th nationally.

The Crusaders could have the most balanced offensive attack in the Horizon League. 14 different players have recorded a point and no player has more than two goals on the year. Todd Vervynckt is the team leader in points with five, and Jaymie Bullard is close behind with four. Valpo has eight players on the roster with one goal. Three of those eight connected on the game-winner.

Beating The Broncos
Detroit picked up their first home win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Western Michigan on Wednesday afternoon. The Broncos faced Valparaiso earlier in the season and defeated the Crusaders by the final score of 2-0 in Kalamazoo.

All-Time Series
Detroit leads the all-time series over Valparaiso 8-7-0, but the Crusaders have held the upper hand in recent matchups. Valpo defeated Detroit last year at Brown Field by the final score of 2-0. Detroit hasn't won against Valparaiso since 2005 when they went on the road to record a 2-1 win in double overtime.

Victor Moves Up Career Goal Ranks
Otieno Victor has four goals on the season pushing his career total to 19. He is now in a three-way tie for 11th place all-time. His 46 career points have also moved him into 13th place all-time in that category.

Road Warriors
Detroit doesn't mind traveling away from Titan Field as they as they are a perfect 3-0 on the road. They did lose to Appalachian State in the Adidas Classic in North Carolina, but that game was played at a neutral site due to the tournament setting. The Crusaders are the opposite as they are 2-0 at home and 0-3-1 away. Detroit will try to keep the luck of the red jerseys going as they sported their road jerseys for their first home win of the season against Western Michigan.

Horizon League Player of the Week
Goalkeeper Anthony Shepherd was rewarded for his standout performance against No. 19 Michigan State by being named Horizon League Men's Soccer Player of the Week, for the week beginning Aug. 22. The sophomore was able to record his first career shutout against the Spartans in the 1-0 overtime victory.

Shepherd played very well against the Spartans as he faced 22 shots and 16 corner kicks. He responded by making seven saves giving the Titans their first win at Michigan State in 14 years, and their first win on opening-weekend since 2006.

A Look Ahead
Horizon League action will continue for Detroit with a game against Milwaukee on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Titan Field. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.