PITTSBURGH, Pa. (8/24/13) – The University of Detroit Mercy's men's soccer team came to a 2-2 tie in its exhibition match with new ACC member Pittsburgh at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Saturday afternoon.

Detroit was on the offensive early in the match racking up corner kicks for opportunities at goals, but just could not capitalize. With 15 minutes remaining in the first half, the stats for the two squads were identical as both teams each had one shot, one save, and three corners. Shortly after, Pittsburgh was able to get on the scoreboard first off a set piece from Ryan Meyers to Chris Davis that put the Panthers up 1-0 with 10:31 remaining in the half, a lead Pittsburgh would maintain heading into the locker room.

Looking to even up the score, Detroit returned to play and put up two shots in the first 10 minutes in the second stanza, but was unable to find the net until Patrick Soltys knocked one through off an Adam Bedell deflected shot to tie the score at 1-1 with 26:05 to go. However, after a header for the Titans hit the bottom of the crossbar and nearly went over stripe, the Panthers turned defense into offense and went sprinting the other way. The aggressiveness led to another set piece for Pitt and Chu Chu Onyeuku put it in from Ryan McKenzie take a 2-1 advantage with 16:58 left.

Detroit never quit and evened the match with just 6:19 left as Aidan Kuhls found a sitting Adam Clauss, who ripped a shot from the left side of the box to the inside of the right post. The goal by Clauss would be the last of the contest as no overtime was played in the preseason battle.

"I think we got some jitters out with the first exhibition game. They got to play against a real opponent, and a very good one at that. It was good to battle back and get the two goals," said head coach Nicholas Deren. "I was satisfied with some players, some guys that came and played really well, the young guys especially that impacted the game that have never played in a real college match, especially the first one being against an ACC opponent," said Deren.

After the first week of practice, Deren expressed the comfortablity he has if he needs to throw one of his 13 newcomers into the fire, and that certainly showed during the battle with Pitt. "I'm impressed with the way they conducted themselves, they look like they have been doing it since the beginning and I am pleased with that," Deren added.

The Titans will open the season at home next Friday, Aug. 30, when the Titans welcome IUPUI to Titan Field. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m.

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