DETROIT (12/11/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team and head coach
Nicholas Deren '99 have announced the addition of
Ryan Pierson (Plymouth, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) to the program. Pierson joins the Titans with three years of eligibility left after playing his first collegiate soccer season with Saginaw Valley State in the fall of 2018.
"We were looking for goals moving forward for next year and this player will provide them immediately," Deren said. "He is a fantastic pick up for us! He has played with several of our current members on the team and will fit on with ease. He knows my coaching style as he played for my Olympic Development Program (ODP) team a couple years ago. He will be an immediate impact player for us!"
Pierson, the 2017-18 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Detroit Catholic Central, will join the program after the new year prior to the start of the spring season. He played in 18 games for Saginaw Valley State during his freshman season in 2018 and tied for third on the team with four assists.
As a senior at Detroit Catholic Central, he helped lead the Shamrocks to a Division 1 state championship and 20-2-3 record, scoring 32 goals and adding 15 assists in 25 games. He had 10 goals and six assists in seven postseason games, including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 state championship victory over Walled Lake Central. Pierson was a finalist for the Mr. Soccer award in Michigan, All-American, First Team All-State, MIHSSCA Dream Team member and was a two-year captain for the Shamrocks.
He played club soccer with the Michigan Jaguars for six years, helping the squad to two state championships and three Midwest Regional Championship appearances. He was the Golden Boot winner at the Midwest Regional Championships. He totaled 51 goals and 27 assists in three varsity seasons with Detroit Catholic Central.
Detroit Mercy returns the bulk of its team in 2019, the 10th under head coach
Nicholas Deren '99.
