WASHINGTON TWP., Mich. (2/10/2021) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team scored two first-half goals in Wednesday's home opener, but visiting Wright State countered with three goals, including one with 17 seconds left in the first overtime frame, as the Titans fell 3-2 to the Raiders from Total Sports Park. 

The game was played indoors due to the below-freezing temperatures in the Detroit area.

The Titans (1-1, 1-1 Horizon League) wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard in the contest as freshman forward Samory Powder found a loose ball in the box and ripped a shot near post to put the Titans ahead 1-0 in the third minute of the match. It was Powder's first collegiate goal in just his second career match.

Just two minutes later, however, Wright State answered with a goal to knot the score at 1-1.

That score would stand until the 18th minute when senior Demetri Pliakos sent a free kick to the far post and senior Jake Poorman's initial header hit the post. Senior forward Mohamad Miri was there for the rebound, burying the ball on the far side of the net for the goal to give the red, white and blue a 2-1 advantage early in the first half. Neither team had another good look at net after the first three goals and Detroit Mercy had six of the 10 shots in the opening 45 minutes of the match.

The second half started like the first with a quick goal, but this time Wright State found the back of the net, scoring in the 48th minute on a goal from inside the box to the far post. Just minutes later, Titan redshirt junior goalkeeper Devin Mendez made a save on a Wright State shot to keep the score 2-2.

The Titans had the next three shots on goal with Bandyk, senior Demetri Pliakos and junior Dominic Gatson all firing looks on goal, but the score remained 2-2. Neither team had serious looks on net in the final minutes of regulation and Detroit Mercy again outshot the Raiders in the half, firing nine shots to WSU's six as the Titans had a 15-10 margin after 90 minutes of action.

Junior defender Jason Blackwell had the first opportunity of overtime, putting a header over the top of the net off a throw-in, and then Wright State had several opportunities in the second half of the first 10-minute overtime session, missing the mark on a few shots. With just seconds remaining in overtime, however, Wright State's Joe Kouadio was played into the box by Harvey Slade and pushed a shot past a charging Mendez and inside the far post to convert on the golden goal and end the match.

The Titans finished the game with the shot advantage, 16-14, while both squads had four corner kicks. Wright State was whistled for 15 fouls and two yellow cards, while the Titans had eight fouls and one yellow card in the contest. Powder led the squad with four shots, while Pliakos and Bandyk each added three shots and junior defender Ryan Halloran had two shots.

Titan News & Notes
• It was Miri's fourth career goal in a Titan uniform.
• With three saves in the match, Mendez is just three saves (133 career saves) behind 10th place in Titan history in career saves.
• Freshman Saeid Jannoun made his collegiate debut, subbing in during the first half.
• The Titans were playing off-campus due to the chill temperatures in the Detroit area this week.
• It was the 34th meeting between the two longtime Horizon League foes.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the road next week, visiting Cleveland State on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Cleveland, Ohio. The match is set for a 1 p.m. ET start. The Titans' next home match is Monday, Feb. 22, when the red, white and blue host Milwaukee for a 1 p.m. match from Titan Field.