The Basics
Final Score: Milwaukee 1, Detroit Mercy 0
Records: Detroit Mercy 2-3 (0-1 HL), Milwaukee 3-2 (1-0 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (9/14/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team helped usher in a new era of Titan Field on Saturday with the inaugural night game from the stadium underneath the newly-installed lights, but the Titans were unable to come away victorious, falling 1-0 to visiting Milwaukee. It was the Horizon League opener for both squads in the 2019 season.
The match was played evenly with the Panthers holding an 11-10 edge in shots and each team securing two corner kicks. Milwaukee got its goal in the 76th minute with a cross coming from near the corner and deflected to the top of the box and the foot of Milwaukee senior forward Evan Conway, who fired a shot just inside the post for the lone marker of the match.
The Titans had several good scoring chances in the game, most notably junior
Demetri Pliakos' free kick opportunity that cleared the wall and was headed towards the top of the goal, but was just knocked away by Milwaukee goalkeeper Freddy Lorenzen. Titan sophomore forward
Ryan Pierson also had a good look in the first half on a hard shot from just outside of the box, but his shot was just wide of the near post.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Devin Mendez kept the game at 0-0 early in the second half, saving a penalty kick shot after Milwaukee earned the attempt just 19 seconds into the second half. Mendez had a strong game overall, making four saves for the red, white and blue.
Pliakos finished the game with four shots overall for the Titans, while Pierson added two shots as they were the only two Titans with multiple shots in the contest.
Thirty-six fouls were called and four yellow cards issued in the match.
Titan News & Notes
• It was the 32nd meeting between the two schools (Milwaukee leads, 18-9-5).
• The last night athletic game played outside at the University of Detroit Mercy was in 1964, a football game between the Titans and VMI, won by the red, white and blue, 28-7.
• The men's and women's soccer teams will play a combined nine soccer games underneath the newly-installed lights in 2019 (six for men's soccer).
• Mendez entered the game fourth in the Horizon League in total saves with 16.
• Pliakos leads the team with 11 total shots after four on Saturday.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the pitch in a road contest on Tuesday at Dayton. The Titans then return home to host Horizon League foe UIC next Saturday underneath the lights at 7 p.m. from Titan Field.
