The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 2, Niagara 0
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-0, Niagara 0-1
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (8/30/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team didn't allow a single shot in the second half of Friday's season opener and scored two second-half goals as the Titans dominated in a 2-0 victory from Titan Field.
Detroit Mercy (1-0) out-shot the visiting Purple Eagles 16-3 in the match and got second half goals from junior forward
Mohamad Miri and sophomore forward
Kyle Bandyk to propel past Niagara. Detroit Mercy had the shot advantage 9-3 at the halftime break before adding seven more shots in the second half.
The Titan defense was strong all day long and didn't allow a single shot on net as sophomore goalkeeper
Devin Mendez earned his first career shutout.
Detroit Mercy had several good looks early in the game -- totaling eight shots in the first 16 minutes. Later on in the first half, junior defender
Justin Murray hit a header that glanced off the crossbar off a corner kick.
The red, white and blue finally got on the board early in the second half as freshman forward
Rocco Galati flicked the ball on to Miri, who corralled the ball in the box and behind the Niagara defense and then placed a perfect ball past the keeper and to the far side of the net. Detroit Mercy held a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
Bandyk's goal came just more than 20 minutes later with junior
Collin Cavanaugh playing the ball to Bandyk, who knifed through the Niagara defense and then beat the keeper to the left side of the goal. With the goal, Detroit Mercy had a 2-0 lead in the 70th minute.
The Titan defense was up to the task the rest of the way -- not allowing a single shot or corner kick in the remainder of the match. The Titans subbed in several defenders in the remaining minutes of the game, including
Michael Palushaj,
Desmond Williams and
Jake Poorman, along with midfielder
Trevor Deon.
Bandyk, sophomore forward
Ryan Pierson and junior midfielder
Demetri Pliakos all finished with three shots on the game. The Titans had five looks on net, scoring on two of them and also had eight corner kicks, while allowing just two. The foul count was dead even in the match, 16-16.
Game Notes
• The three total shots was the fewest allowed since giving up three against St. Bonaventure in 2015 on Sept. 13.
• The last time Detroit Mercy didn't allow a shot on goal was during the same season against Belmont on Nov. 6, 2015.
• It was the eighth meeting between the two programs all-time and first since 2014; Titans lead series, 7-1.
• Bandyk scored in his first game back after missing all of 2018 with an injury.
• Mendez tallied his first collegiate shutout without having to make a save as the Titan defense allowed just three shots.
• Freshmen
Rocco Galati,
Michael Palushaj and
Desmond Williams all made their collegiate debuts in the match.
• Miri's goal was the second in his career -- both of them are the game-winning variety.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy heads out onto the road for its next match, heading to South Carolina for a contest with ACC foe Clemson on Labor Day. The game is set for 5 p.m. ET on Monday and may be seen live via the ACC Network. The Titans' next home game is Saturday, Sept. 14 against Milwaukee for the Horizon League opener.
