The Basics
Final Score: Saint Mary's 2, Detroit Mercy 0
Records: Detroit Mercy 0-2, Saint Mary's 2-0
Location: Moraga, Calif. (Saint Mary's Stadium)
MORAGA, Calif. (8/26/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team dropped its second game of the weekend in California on Sunday afternoon, falling to a potent Saint Mary's squad, 2-0, from Saint Mary's Stadium.
Detroit Mercy (0-2) played the Gaels tough in the opening 45 minutes with the score evened 0-0 at the halftime break. Saint Mary's had eight shots in the first half, but freshman goalkeeper
Devin Mendez (Tecumseh, Mich.) was able to make two saves in the first half.
The Titans had two looks in the opening 10 minutes with junior
Garret Weaver (Northville, Mich.) and sophomore
Mohamad Miri (Canton, Mich.) each tallying shots that couldn't find the net. The Gaels had several looks midway through the first half, with Mendez making his second save and the Titan defense thwarting several other corner kicks and shots.
The Gaels opened the scoring early in the second half in the 47th minute on a cross in the box. Saint Mary's added another goal just 10 minutes later with Gael forwards Anders Engebretsen scoring both of the tallies for SMC. Engebretsen finished the match with seven of Saint Mary's 13 shots.
Sophomore
Demetri Pliakos (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) had two looks in the final five minutes of the match, both of them on net, however they were both turned away. Weaver and sophomore midfielder
Daniel Iyok (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) each finished with two shots in the match.
Thirty-five fouls were called in the match with the whistle being blown against the Titans 19 times. Detroit Mercy had seven shots total and two corner kicks, while Saint Mary's had 13 shots and six corner kicks. The red, white and blue received both of the yellow cards that were issued -- one in the first half and one in the second.
Freshman
Joel VanHook (Canton, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) earned his first collegiate playing time for the Titans.
Detroit Mercy and Saint Mary's were meeting for the second time in men's soccer and also the second time in as many seasons. The Titans and Gaels played to a 3-3 draw last season in Moraga, with Detroit Mercy rallying multiple times, including scoring off a PK with just seconds left in regulation.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the road again next weekend, making a trip East to play Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa. on Friday, Aug. 31 before heading to Pittsburgh for a Sunday match at Duquesne. Both games are set to be streamed live. The Titans open the 2018 season with five-straight road matches.
