Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. (9/19/2014) -- Tommy Bowman scored his first collegiate goal just before the halftime buzzer and Matt Ybarra added his first goal of the season Friday, but the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team dropped a 3-2 match at the University of Buffalo.

Detroit came out firing against the Bulls on their home field, recording three corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the game. On the third corner kick, freshman forward Spiro Pliakos (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) found Ybarra (Irvine, Calif. / Ann Arbor Huron) for the goal. Ybarra's goal in the 10th minute was his first of the season and gave the Titans a 1-0 lead.

After Buffalo evened the game in the 28th minute, the Titans got the last goal just before halftime.

Bowman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Seaholm) found the back of the net with just seven seconds remaining before the break. On a rush towards the goal, Pliakos sent a pass across the field and Bowman fired a rocket into the top left corner for his first collegiate goal, giving the Titans a 2-1 lead at the half. 

At the break, Detroit had 10 shots overall for the game, including six shots on goal, while Buffalo had just four shots in the first half.

The 2-1 Detroit lead lasted all the way until the 76th minute when Buffalo was awarded a penalty kick. UB's Russell Cicerone snuck a shot past Detroit goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher to tie the game. The Bulls added a goal just four minutes later in the 80th minute in what proved to be the game-winner.

For the game, Detroit had the shot advantage over Buffalo, 14-9. UDM also had the edge in corner kicks, 3-2. The game was physical and featured 28 total fouls and seven cards between the two squads.

Pliakos had three shots to lead Detroit and finished the game with two assists. Junior defender Jacob Prud'homme (South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon) had two shots on goal for the Titans.

Detroit returns to the pitch Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. match at Niagara. UDM's first home match of the season is Saturday, Sept. 27, against Wright State at Titan Field.