The Basics
Final Score: UIC 2, Detroit Mercy 1 (OT)
Records: Detroit Mercy 2-5 (0-2 HL), UIC 6-1 (2-0 HL)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)

DETROIT (9/21/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team dropped a thrilling back-and-forth match with visiting UIC on Homecoming Saturday, with the Flames scoring the Golden Goal in the first overtime period to take a 2-1 victory from Titan Field. The game was delayed 1 hour and 40 minutes at the start due to lightning.

Detroit Mercy (2-5, 0-2 Horizon League) was playing in its second game underneath the newly-installed lights from Titan Field as well as its second Horizon League match of the 2019 campaign. The Titans held the upper hand after a 71st-minute goal from redshirt junior Collin Cavanaugh, as the midfielder took a deflected ball and then finished on a strong shot past the keeper to give Detroit Mercy a 1-0 lead.

The Titan defense -- and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Devin Mendez -- was up to the task throughout the contest with Detroit Mercy shutting down the high-powered UIC offense for the majority of the game. Mendez finished with seven saves in the contest and Detroit Mercy kept the Flames off the scoreboard until just before the end of regulation.

The Flames got the game-tying goal in the 90th minute of the match scoring off a long cross from near the sideline that found the head of Jacob Graiber near the back post. UIC scored with just 23 seconds left before the second-half buzzer.

Just under four minutes into the first overtime period, the Flames ended the match with another header, this time by Pau Mateo, who scored off a header right in front of the net in the box off a long free kick from Jose Perez Flores.

Detroit Mercy had several good scoring chances throughout the game with senior defender Garret Weaver nearly scoring on a pair of headers off corner kicks in the first half. Each header was just wide of first the near post and the next occurence, the far post off Cavanaugh's corner kicks.

In the second half, junior midfielder Daniel Iyok ripped a shot that was saved by the UIC keeper and late on senior defender Justin Schueneman nearly scored in the box, but a Flames defender was able to knock the ball away before it crossed the goal line.

With eight minutes left on the clock, sophomore forward Ryan Pierson had another great look, booming a shot from outside of the box that was destined for the back of the net, but Flames keeper Sokratis Vasilas was again up to the challenge, keeping the game at 1-0 late in the second half.

The shots were even in the first half, 6-6, while UIC held the advantage in the match, 19-12, which included a 9-5 edge in shots on goal. The Flames had eight corner kicks total, while Detroit Mercy tallied seven. Twenty-five fouls were whistled as well as three yellow cards.

Mendez's seven saves was a season-high. Cavanaugh scored his first collegiate goal for the Titans with his only shot of the game. Pierson led the Titans with three shots.

It was the 28th meeting between the longtime league foes with the Titans holding a 12-11-5 edge over the Flames.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy doesn't return to the pitch until next Saturday when the Titans travel to Rochester for a 7 p.m. ET match with #MetroSeries rival Oakland. The Titans' next home match is Tuesday, Oct. 1 when Detroit Mercy entertains Bowling Green in a non-league match from Titan Field at 7 p.m.