The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 2, Stetson 1 (OT)
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-0-0, Stetson 0-1-0
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (8/25/2017) -- The Titans kicked off the 2017 men's soccer season in golden fashion Friday afternoon, knocking off visiting Stetson University in overtime by a 2-1 margin. Senior forward
Spiro Pliakos (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) scored a brace for the University of Detroit Mercy in the victory, including the winner in the 94th minute.
It was the
50th victory in the career of eighth-year head coach Nicholas
Deren '99.
The Titans are unbeaten in season openers in the past five seasons (2-0-3). It was the first victory in a season opener since Detroit Mercy earned a 2-1 overtime victory on the road at Western Michigan in 2014.
Detroit Mercy (1-0-0) controlled play for much of the first half, tallying 14 shots and 10 corner kicks. The Titans found the back of the net in the
22nd minute as
Pliakos hit the ball into a wide open net after a great feed from senior Adam
Clauss (Grand Haven, Mich. / Spring Lake).
Pliakos then ended the game with a Detroit Mercy victory in the 94th minute, scoring the golden goal on a loose ball in the box off a throw-in by sophomore
Max Becker (North Olmsted, Ohio).
Pliakos' tallied the third brace of his Titan career and second in as many seasons. Senior
Adam Clauss (Grand Haven, Mich. / Spring Lake) and sophomores
Max Becker and
Garret Weaver (Northville, Mich. / Northville) each finished with assists in the match.
First Half
• The Titans came out aggressive on the offensive end, securing three corner kicks and five shots in the first 12 minutes of the match.
•
Tyler Hughes had a good offensive chance in the 11th minute, but sent a header just high of the goal.
• Pliakos scored off a one-time pass from Clauss, as he beat the GK to the ball from 35 yards out and blasted a shot into a wide-open goal.
• Just minutes later, Weaver was wide open off a corner kick, but sent his shot high of the net.
• Pliakos had another look on net in the 30th minute, but his shot was turned away.
• Stetson evened the game, 1-1, in the 37th minute with the Hatters scoring from just inside the box.
• Detroit Mercy had a couple more chances in the first half, with freshman
Kyle Bandyk sending a header just wide of the net in the 39th minute.
• The Titans finished with a 14-3 shot advantage in the opening half and had all 10 corner kicks in the opening 45.
Second Half
• Stetson had the better offensive chances in the second half with the Titans getting off just one shot.
• The Hatters had six shots in the second half.
• Senior goalkeeper
Robbie Beckwell turned away two shots on goal in the second half.
• The Titans had a final corner kick in regulation in the 84th minute, but couldn't get a shot on net.
Overtime
• Pliakos had a great look, bombing a shot from just outside the box in the 91st minute, but the shot was controlled.
• Stetson followed with a corner kick of its own in the 93rd minute and pushed a header wide.
• Detroit Mercy earned a throw-in deep in the offensive end with Becker throwing in during the 94th minute.
• Becker whipped a ball in, which was headed by Weaver and found the feet of Pliakos, who beat the goalkeeper for the golden goal.
Game Notes
• Detroit Mercy finished the game with advantages in shots (17-11), corner kicks (12-5) and shots on goal (5-3).
• The Titans are unbeaten in three career meetings with Stetson, holding a 2-0-1 mark.
• It was the first career assists for Weaver and Becker and first collegiate point for Becker.
• Freshmen
Kyle Bandyk and
Mohamad Miri each saw their first collegiate minutes.
• Pliakos also had two-goal games against Western Michigan in 2016 and Green Bay in 2014.
• Pliakos set a new career-high with nine shots. He had all five Titan shots on goal.
• The Titans open the 2017 season with three of four from Titan Field.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the field on Sunday at 2 p.m. for a non-conference meeting with LIU-Brooklyn. The game is set to be streamed live on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN Applications.
