DETROIT (12/16/21) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team have signed eight student-athletes in Mardig Alajajian, Michael Chimienti, Zander Crooks, Kendell Howard, Clayton Lafayette, Vincent Stockton, Guershom Sylvain and Quinn Tews to the 2021-22 recruiting class announced Head Coach Nick Deren.
 
"I would like to thank my coaching staff for their countless hours of putting together such a talented and well-rounded recruiting class together," said Deren. "I think we addressed our needs and I am excited to see what the near future hold for these new Titans!"


 
Mardig Alajajian – F
Freshman
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Mich.
High School: AGBU Manoogian
Club: Vardar U19 MLS Academy
 
Highlights:
• Named Lakes Valley All-Conference First Team as a sophomore and Most Impacted Freshman in State of Michigan while at Walled Lake Western HS scoring 24 goals and 13 assists
• Posted 13 goals and nine assists for Vadar MLS Academy (2019-2022)
• Scored 97 goals in four-year span (2014-18) for the Michigan Jaguars
• US National Pool and ODP Region 2 Team selection and invited to 2-2 Columbus Crew Trial
• Helped lead Vadar to MLS NEXT Playoff quarterfinals and finished 2021 Fall season in the top two out of 12 teams
 
Coach Deren on Alajajian: "Mardig can play a variety of positions in the front part of the field including centrally with the ability to hold up the ball but I see him playing wide for us. He is an accomplished winger that always finds a way to score and set up goals who adapts at every level he plays at and produces consistently."


 
Michael Chimienti – F
Freshman
Hometown: Northville, Mich.
High School: Northville
Club Team: Michigan Jaguars
 
Highlights:
• 2020-21 KLAA West all-conference selection
• 2021-22 all-conference, all-district, all-region, all-state first-team and Team MVP selection and team Golden Boot winner
• Helped Northville to a state semi-final appearance
• Recorded 30 career goals in 42 games, posted 20 goals and eight assists during 2020-21 season
• Helped lead Michigan Jaguars to 2014 and 2015 state championship and 2017 and 2021 runner-up finish
 
Coach Deren on Chimienti: "Mike is a traditional center forward with tremendous hold up play which will definitely be an asset as he can bring all of the other attackers into dangerous positions. Mike also has the ability to pull wide and run by players on the dribble or with well-timed runs in behind. He knows exactly what to do when he gets to the spot as well. Mike just scores goals and  is a tremendous pick up for us."


 
Zander Crooks – F
Freshman
Hometown: Portage, Mich.
High School: Portage Northern
Club: Kingdom Soccer
 
Highlights:
• Helped Portage Northern to 2019 and 2018 district title
• Also helped Kingdom claim two state championships and one National Championship
• Scored 25 goals with 38 assists in four-year high school career
 
Coach Deren on Crooks: "Zander is an incredibly quick, dynamic, and dangerous winger. His ability to turn defenders as well as eliminate them facing up makes him an immediate threat on the wing. He knows how to get in behind an opponent's back line either on the ball of off the ball with intelligent running. I am expecting a significant goal and assist output from Zander in is time at Detroit Mercy as he has all the tools to be big time!"



Kendell Howard – D
Freshman
Hometown: Tyler, Tex.
High School: Tyler
Previous School: Tyler Junior College
Club Team: FC Dallas ETX
 
Highlights:
• Two-time District 16-5A Defensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021)
• 2021 South East All-American
• 2020 all-state selection
• 2019 ODP South Region Team selection
 
Coach Deren on Howard: "Kendell fits everything we are looking for in a Titan defender. He is an extremely intelligent defender at reading the game and cutting out opponents' dangerous moments. Coupled with his athletic characteristics, he is a perfect defender for our team. Kendell's ability to play centrally of out wide in the back line will make him an immediate impact player for us this Fall."


 
Clayton Lafayette – MF
Freshman
Hometown: Grosse Ile, Mich.
High School: Grosse Ile
Club: Michigan Rush
 
Highlights:
• Four-time All Huron League First-Team selection (2018-21)
• Three-time all-district first team selection (2019-21)
• Two-time all-region team and all-state third team selection (2020-21)
• 2021 Coach's Award recipient
• Scored 47 goals with 73 assists in high school career
• Helped Grosse Ille to 2019 and 2020 state championship and 2018 and 2021 runner-up finish with a 83-5-4 four-year record
• Helped Michigan Rush to 2020 league championship
 
Coach Deren on Lafayette: "Clay is a fit box-to-box and proper central midfielder that wants to get on the ball as much as possible who will link the game from the back line to the front line with his passing ability. He is also very adept at making late runs in the opponent's box from his midfield positions to score goals. Clay plays both sides of the ball extremely well, whether its tackling or digging out second balls, he is not a player anyone wants to play against."


 
Vincent Stockton – MF/D
Freshman
Hometown: Milford, Mich.
High School: Detroit Catholic Central
Club Team: Michigan Jaguars
 
Highlights:
• All-district team, all-regional team and all-state honorable mention selection
• Scored 40 goals with 11 assists in high school career including 16 goals and six assists in 13 games during senior year
• Helped lead Detroit CC to the 2020 state championship
• Helped lead Jags to three state championships and three consecutive regional championship appearances
 
Coach Deren on Stockton: Vinny has tremendous ability to attack the wide areas of the field with his one-on-one dribbling ability or combining with teammates which makes him a threat going forward. He is also a true defender at heart, very good in the air and tenacious in the tackle to fit the role of what a wide player should be at Detroit Mercy. Vinny will give us a extra threat in the wide areas with defensive stability which is needed on our team.



Guershom Sylvain – F
Freshman
Hometown: Lansing, Mich.
High School: Holt
Club: Michigan Rush (Lansing)
 
Highlights:
• Three-time CAAC first team and Three-time all-district selection
• All-State Division I First Team selection as a senior and All-State Division I Honorable Mention as a junior
• Scored 44 goals with 15 assists in high school career
• Helped lead Holt claim two CAAC Blue titles and two District championships with a Regional final and semifinal appearance
• Helped lead Michigan Rush to PDT and Columbus Crew SC championships with a Weston Cup and Kickoff Classic finals appearance
 
Coach Deren on Sylvain: "Guershom will bring attacking flair, creativity, and most importantly, goals. His one-vs-one ability allows him to get into dangerous spots in and around goal consistently.  He will be an immediate impact player whether scoring himself or setting up chances. I am excited to bring in a player with this much quality and character!"


 
Quinn Tews – GK
Freshman
Hometown: Plymouth, Mich.
High School: Salem
Club Team: Livonia Wolves
 
Highlights:
• Helped lead Salem to district and regional championship and State semifinal appearance as a sophomore
• Named Goalkeeper of the Club SC Del Sol at the President's Day Tournament
• Nominated for Hometown Athlete of the Week
 
Coach Deren on Tews: "Quinn will give depth to our goalkeeper position. He has been coached by some of the game's best in the area which has built a solid foundation. His work rate and competitive nature fits our goalkeeper unit.  He has everything to become a big-time goalkeeper in the Horizon League. Quinn has great size, amazing hands, and quality distribution which are characteristics that will give him the chance to compete immediately."