DELAND, Fla. – The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team opened their five-game road trip with a gritty 1-1 tie at Stetson University on Friday night from the Sunshine State.
For the third time in as many games to open the 2015 season, the match was a tight affair that had to be decided in overtime. Neither team was able to register the golden goal, so the match ended in a draw.
With the tie, the Titans move to 0-1-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Hatters were denied a win for the first time in 2015, moving to 2-0-1.
The tone of the defensive battle was set early, with Detroit turning away four Hatters' corners in the opening 10 minutes.
Detroit blocked a pair of Stetson shots before flipping the field and pressuring the Hatters' keeper. Junior
Tyler Moorman, normally a starter, came off the bench and put the Titans on the board first, heading a ball into the net off a throw-in by
Jonathan Bohlman in the 29th minute.
The tight match continued through half time, with each team receiving cards in a physical battle.
Stetson broke through in the 58th minute as a shot by David Caufield was deflected to the foot of Lucas Diniz, who collected the rebound and buried a 15-yard shot for his sixth goal of the young season to tie the match, 1-1.
The Titans re-grouped and got the ball deep into the Hatters' territory less than a minute later, but were denied the go-ahead goal on a pair of blocked shots and a save. The game would head to extra time, as each team was unable to find the back of the net.
Stetson registered the only scoring chance in the first overtime, earning a corner kick in the 95th minute. The corner kick connected with Arturo Roosen, who was turned away before teammate Ian McCauley was also denied.
Adam Clauss nearly netted the game-winner in double overtime, but his shot was blocked and the game would end in a draw.
The physical match was highly contested with four total yellow cards. Stetson held the edge in shots (14-12), shots on goal (6-3) and corner kicks (8-4).
Moorman highlighted the offense with a goal on two shots, while Clauss led the Titans with four shots. Bohlman was credited with an assist, while
Spiro Pliakos and
Jacob Prud'homme each registered two shots.
Detroit senior goalkeeper
Nathan Steinwascher tallied five saves with one goal against in all 110 minutes in net.
The Titans continue their road trip in the Sunshine State against Jacksonville on Sunday. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET and is set to be broadcast on ESPN3.com.
