The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 1, IUPUI 0 (2OT)
Records: Detroit Mercy 6-10-1 (3-3-1 HL), IUPUI 4-9-3 (2-4-1 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (11/2/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team earned a pivotal victory Saturday evening on a cold night from Titan Field as junior
Demetri Pliakos scored in the first minute of double overtime to lift the Titans to a 1-0 win over IUPUI. The win on Senior Night was a big one for the Titans, which moved into fourth place in the league standings.
After a scoreless match for 100 minutes, the Titans needed just 51 seconds in the second overtime to fire home the winner. On a kick from inside the box, IUPUI goalkeeper Quinn McCallion hit a line drive off Pliakos' back as he was turned and running up field. Pliakos quickly turned around and with the goalkeeper out of net, bended a shot past McCallion and inside the far post, sending the Titans into a frenzy with the golden goal. It was the second golden goal in three seasons against the Jaguars from Titan Field.
Detroit Mercy (6-10-1 overall) improved to 3-3-1 in Horizon League play with the win and after the conclusion of matches on Saturday, sit in sole possession of fourth place in the league standings with 10 points. Detroit Mercy is one point ahead of both Cleveland State and Wright State and two points ahead of Milwaukee with one game remaining for each team. Green Bay is ahead of the Titans at 12 points, but are done with league play at 4-4. The third and fourth place teams host a first-round match in the Horizon League Championship.
Both teams had a hard time finding chances in the early part of the match on a cold night. Detroit Mercy had the first four shots of the game, but couldn't knock home an opportunity early in the match. Detroit Mercy had opportunites in the second half as well as seniors
Max Becker and
Jake Reitzloff connected on shots that were just high of the crossbar.
In the first overtime, Becker had another free kick opportunity that was just high of the bar and Pliakos shot attempt on frame in the box was turned away by McCallion. It all set up for the theatrics in the second overtime by Pliakos.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Devin Mendez turned away two shots for his fifth shutout of the season for the red, white and blue. The Titan defense was strong all match long as IUPUI didn't record a shot on goal until the 48th minute.
Pliakos finished with a game-high seven shots in the match, including three of the four Titan shots on frame. Sophomore forward
Kyle Bandyk, Becker and Reitzloff all finished with multiple shots for Detroit Mercy. The Titans out-shot IUPUI in the match, 16-11, including a 4-2 margin in the overtime frames. Thirty-eight fouls were called in the match, 20 against the Titans. Just one yellow card was issued.
Detroit Mercy honored its six seniors prior to the match --
Max Becker,
Sami Nouri,
Jake Reitzloff,
Justin Schueneman,
Aleks Vushaj and
Garret Weaver.
Titan News & Notes
• Both of
Demetri Pliakos' goals this season are of the game-winning variety; He also scored the game-winner in the 90th minute of a 1-0 win at Purdue Fort Wayne.
•
Max Becker scored on a Golden Goal against IUPUI in 2017, scoring in 98th minute of that match.
• Pliakos' seven shots in the match Saturday were also a season-best for a Titan.
• Mendez's fifth clean sheet is the most in a single season since Nathan Steinwascher had five shutouts in 2015.
• The red, white and blue finished the regular season with a 3-4 mark from Titan Field (all wins were shutouts).
• Detroit Mercy improved to 7-3-3 all-time against the Jaguars and 3-0-2 from Titan Field.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to play Friday, visiting Cleveland State from Krenzler Field in Cleveland, Ohio in the regular-season finale for both teams. First kick is set for 7 p.m. ET and may be seen live via ESPN-Plus.
