The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 4, Belmont 0
Records: Detroit Mercy 5-2-1 (2-1 HL), Belmont 3-2-2 (1-2 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)

DETROIT (9/23/2017) -- The Titans' high-powered offense was on full display Saturday afternoon with the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team using three goals in the first 30 minutes of the match to cruise to a 4-0 victory over visiting Horizon League foe Belmont.

The Titans scored four goals for the first time since 2011 and earned their largest margin of victory since the 2007 season. It was the third-straight shutout of the season at home with Detroit Mercy also improving to 4-0 from Titan Field in 2017. The Titans went to 2-1 in Horizon League play after three matches.

Detroit Mercy (5-2-1 overall) scored three goals in a span of 10 minutes during the first half, all of them off the foot of seniors. Senior forward Spiro Pliakos scored the first, getting behind the defense and pushing a shot to the right side of the goal past the keeper in the 17th minute. It was his sixth goal of the year.

Senior midfielder Matt DeVries scored his first of the season deep inside the box, getting a pass from classmate Adam Clauss and beating the keeper near the right post in the 25th minute. Less than two minutes later, senior Tyler Moorman was slotted a ball from sophomore Jake Reitzloff in the box and beat the keeper for the Titans' third goal. After the flurry of goals, Detroit Mercy led 3-0 and had doubled Belmont's season total of allowed goals (they entered the match with three).

Moorman had a brace after scoring in the 59th minute on a great pass over the defense in the box from freshman Demetri Pliakos. It was Moorman's sixth goal of the season and Demetri Pliakos' first career assist and point.

Detroit Mercy out-shot the Bruins 15-4 in the match, including a 7-1 margin in the second half. It was a hot day on the pitch and both teams were given two water breaks -- one in each half. Each team had three corner kicks and just one yellow card was issued in the match.

Senior goalkeeper Robbie Beckwell was rarely challenged all day and made one save in net to earn his third shutout of the season. Twenty-four different players saw playing time in the match for the Titans.

The Titans held a team that ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in corner kicks per game to just three, while also holding the Bruins to four shots total. It was the lowest amount of shots allowed all season from the Titans and lowest since the 2015, when Detroit Mercy held St. Bonaventure to three shots.

Spiro Pliakos led the way in shots with five total, three of them on net. Clauss, DeVries and Moorman each added two shots.

Titan News & Notes
• Biggest margin of victory (four goals) since 4-0 wins during the 2007 season (over Canisius & Cleveland State).
• With four goals, it was the most goals in a single game since a 5-2 win at St. Joseph's in 2011.
• It was the most goals at Titan Field since 2009, when Detroit Mercy earned a 4-2 win over UIC.
• Moorman's brace was his second career with the other also coming against Belmont back in 2015.
• DeVries scored the second goal of his Titan career and first since 2014.
• Demetri Pliakos tallied his first career assist and point.
• Spiro Pliakos improved upon his career high in goals while Moorman is one goal shy of his career-best of seven, set in 2015.
• Eleven (11) of Detroit Mercy's 15 goals have come in the first half in 2017.
• The Titans improved to 4-0 at home in 2017 and have out-scored opponents 9-1 at Titan Field.
• All three shutouts are in the last three games from Titan Field.
• Detroit Mercy went to 3-1 all-time against Belmont.
 

VICTORY! With their largest margin of victory since 2007, the Titans roll past Belmont and stay undefeated at home!#TitansForLife #HLMSOC pic.twitter.com/IlFBNVwWo4

— Detroit Mercy MSOC (@UDMSoccer) September 23, 2017