The Basics
Final Score: San Diego 1, Detroit Mercy 0
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-2, San Diego 3-0
Location: San Diego, Calif. (Torero Stadium)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (9/6/2019) -- A second half goal in the 68th minute proved to be the difference Friday night with the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team falling 1-0 to host University of San Diego from Torero Stadium. It was the second-straight road match for the Titans and the first of two contests for the red, white and blue in San Diego.

Sophomore goalkeeper Devin Mendez made six saves in the match for the Titans. Detroit Mercy (1-2) had three shots on goal in the match -- from Daniel Iyok, Rocco Galati and Collin Cavanaugh.

The Titans had nine shots overall, while San Diego finished the contest with 14 shots, seven of them on target. The Toreros (3-0) got their goal off a cross to the top of the box that was fired on net by George West, through some traffic and inside the post. The goal in the 68th minute broke a scoreless game and proved to be the game-winning marker.

The Titans had a good opportunity late to even the match, but junior Demetri Pliakos' header off sophomore's Ryan Pierson's corner kick was just high of the crossbar. Junior Collin Cavanaugh also fired a long shot just minutes before, but the San Diego keeper made a leaping grab to secure the ball.

There was just one card issued in the match and 21 fouls called overall. San Diego had the advantage in corner kicks, 11-3, but the red, white and blue had three of the seven in the second half. Mendez made four of his six saves in the second half, several of them on hard shots to keep the score even before the goal or at 1-0 after San Diego pushed one across.

Eight different players had shots in the match for the Titans with Daniel Iyok the only player credited with multiple shots as he finished with two.

Game Notes
• Mendez made six or more saves for the second-straight game after turning away seven shots at Clemson; It was his seventh career match of five or more saves.
• It was the first meeting between the two schools in men's soccer.
• Detroit Mercy was playing in California for the third consecutive season after meeting Saint Mary's in the two previous seasons on the road as well as Cal in 2018.
• The Titans also meet San Diego State on Sunday for the first time.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the pitch Sunday evening with the Titans playing the second game in San Diego, this time playing San Diego State at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. local time. The match may be seen live via the Mountain West Network with a live statistics feed also available. Detroit Mercy returns home for its match following, hosting Horizon League foe Milwaukee for the first night men's soccer home game from Titan Field on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.