FORT WAYNE, Ind. (10/4/2019) -- Junior midfielder
Demetri Pliakos scored the game-winning goal with 58 seconds left in regulation as the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team earned a 1-0 road victory at Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday night. It was the third non-league victory of the season for the Titans (3-6-1 overall) and second shutout in 2019.
In the 90th minute of the match, Pliakos gained control of the ball near the box after the Titans pushed the ball up the field and made a run towards the right side of the goal, firing a shot that cleared the keeper and defenders and found the back of the net. Pliakos' first goal of the season punctuated a dominating Detroit Mercy effort against the Mastodons, with the Titans out-shooting Purdue Fort Wayne by a 20-5 margin and not allowing a shot on net.
Pliakos had a game-high six shots -- five of them in the first half as the Titans threatened early and often. Detroit Mercy put a season-high 10 shots on goal during the match. He had several good chances in the opening minutes of the match as did Detroit Mercy, which peppered shots at the Mastodon goal.
Senior forward
Aleks Vushaj had a team-best three shots on goal, while sophomore forward
Kyle Bandyk and Pliakos each had two shots on goal. Senior defender
Justin Schueneman and senior forward
Jake Reitzloff each added two shots for the red, white and blue, which had 13 shots in the first half.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Devin Mendez picked up his second shutout of the season as along with the Titan defense, the squad gave up five shots and just two in the second half. None of the five shots were on target as the Titans picked up their second shutout of the year without allowing a single shot on goal.
Pliakos had the first shot on goal in just the second minute of the match and just minutes late, Reitzloff found classmate Vushaj on a cross as the senior forward nearly pushed home the ball. Bandyk added a shot on goal just minutes later and Detroit Mercy had 10 shots recorded in the first 22 minutes of the contest. Early in the second half, the Titans nearly scored again as Bandyk and sophomore defender
Ryan Halloran had consecutive shots on goal after a Titan corner kick, but again the Titans were thwarted.
In the 61st minute, Vushaj again had a good look in the box, firing a shot but the Mastodons keeper made a sprawling save on a shot headed for the back of the net.
After Pliakos goal in the 90th minute, the Mastodons had an opportunity in Detroit Mercy's defensive end, but the Titans cleared the ball quickly and
Mohamad Miri helped run out the time with a run down the field with the ball, taking it nearly to the other end as the clock dwindled down.
The Titans held the advantage in corner kicks (7-3) and were whistled for just eight fouls in the match.
Titan News & Notes
• The 20 shots in the match were the most since Detroit Mercy fired 24 against IUPUI at home on Oct. 7, 2017.
• With 10 shots on goal, it was the most for the Titans had 11 against Northern Kentucky at home on Sept. 26, 2015.
• The Titans now have three wins in non-league play (2-0 over Niagara, 3-2 at San Diego State and 1-0 over Purdue Fort Wayne).
• Pliakos' scored his second career goal and first career game-winning goal.
• It was Mendez's second career shutout and second of the season.
• It was the 19th consecutive meeting between the two programs in 19 seasons (Titans lead series, 12-3-4).
• Purdue Fort Wayne is set to join the Horizon League prior to the 2020-21 school year.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy closes a three-match non-league stretch on Wednesday, visiting the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for a 7:30 p.m. start. The Titans then return home to host Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 12 in a doubleheader with the Detroit Mercy women's soccer squad from Titan Field. Game times that day are set for 3 and 7 p.m. and admission is free.
