The Basics
Final Score: Western Michigan 1, Detroit Mercy 0 (OT)
Records: Detroit Mercy 5-10-1, Western Michigan 10-5-1
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)

DETROIT (10/29/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team battled with visiting Western Michigan University as the two teams were scoreless for the first 97 minutes of a non-conference match Tuesday evening, but WMU was able to push across the game-winning goal in the 98th minute and first overtime frame as the Titans fell 1-0.

It was the final non-league match of the 2019 season for the Titans (5-10-1), which has two Horizon League matches left, including Saturday's Senior Night against IUPUI.

Detroit Mercy out-shot Western Michigan after halftime, 12-9, including firing off three shots in overtime. Western Michigan scored its goal with 2:58 left in the first overtime period, corralling a loose ball and sending a shot in the box just inside the far post.

The Titans had their opportunities in the match. Sophomore forward Ryan Pierson had the first couple of good looks as he had all three of the Titans' first-half shots. Pierson rocketed a shot just wide of the frame in the 20th minute in the box and also sent a shot earlier in the first half.

Freshman forward Rocco Galati and junior midfielder Demetri Pliakos had back-to-back shots on goal in the 60th minute of the match with Galati's shot being turned away and then just 30 seconds later, Pliakos also curving a shot on goal, that was also turned away. With 14 minutes left on the clock, sophomore forward Kyle Bandyk sent a long screamer just wide of the post that nearly gave Detroit Mercy a 1-0 lead. In the 86th minute, senior forward Jake Reitzloff beat the goalkeeper to a ball in the box, but his shot sent towards goal was kicked away by a Bronco defender.

The Titans also had good chances in overtime with senior defender Justin Schueneman nearly ending the match with a rocket from outside of the box, that curved wide of the near post. Just 40 seconds before the Broncos' Golden Goal, Bandyk played in Pliakos, who was in the box, but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Reitzloff had a team-high four shots, while Pierson finished with three shots and both Bandyk and Pliakos each had multiple shots for the red, white and blue. Sophomore goalkeeper Devin Mendez made five saves in net for the Titans, which had six saves as a team. Schueneman saved a shot off the line early in the match for the Titans.

The Broncos had a 21-15 shot edge in the contest, but Detroit Mercy out-shot WMU in the second half, 9-6. Both teams had three shots in overtime. Western Michigan had 11 corner kicks to Detroit Mercy's two. Four yellow cards were issued, three to the Titans, and 31 fouls were called in the match.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to action on Saturday, hosting IUPUI for Senior Night from Titan Field. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and admission into the contest is free. Prior to the game, Detroit Mercy will honor its six seniors on Titan Field. The game may also be seen live via ESPN-Plus.