ANN ARBOR, Mich. (8/26/2021) -- Playing a man down for nearly 89 minutes of Thursday's road match at Big Ten foe Michigan, the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team relished in the opportunity, earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw with the Wolverines in the season opener for both squads.
The Titans led on the very first shot of the match with high school turned Titan teammates
Daniel Iyok and
Demetri Pliakos connecting on a great goal. Iyok, playing on the back line, sent a perfect ball down the field, finding Pliakos in stride. Pliakos corralled the ball, turned from the left side of the field towards the box and fired a right-footed rocket past a defender and inside the near post.
Pliakos' goal in the third minute of the match gave Detroit Mercy a 1-0 lead, which the Titans maintained for most of the first half. The Titans were issued a red card in the 22nd minute of the match on a foul away from the play and played the next 89 minutes with only 10 men.
The Titans were up to the task of being a man down the whole way with redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Jonathan Kliewer making seven saves in net in his first collegiate appearance. The Titans allowed 24 shots in the match, but only seven on net and only a few strong chances at the goal. Kliewer's best save of the match came in the 83rd minute on a sprawling save at the line, knocking the shot down with his right hand on a dive and then jumping on the ball to prevent a rebound attempt.
Detroit Mercy had another good offensive opportunity in the second half in the 74th minute when senior
Bennett Brooks sent a cross from near the end line that found Pliakos, who headed the ball just wide of the post.
Michigan's only goal came in the 39th minute on a goal in the box. The Titans allowed just one shot in overtime, with Kliewer making the lone save in the second overtime period.
Pliakos had a team-high three shots, while junior
Rocco Galati had the other shot, which was on net, for the Titans.
Titan News & Notes
• Several Titans made their collegiate debuts in the match -- Kliewer,
Gabriel Parra,
Alex Diac,
Fisher Hudak and
Daniel Larsson.
• Pliakos' goal was his fifth career goal; Pliakos and Iyok both starred at Rochester High School, graduating together in 2017.
• Kliewer's seven saves were the most for a Titan keeper in his debut in at least the past decade.
• It was the 18th meeting between the two men's soccer programs (all since 2000).
• Six of the last eight matches between Michigan and the Titans have been decided by one goal or less (Titans 1-5-2 in that stretch).
• The Titans open the 2021 fall campaign with seven-straight matches away from Detroit. The Titans first home match is on Sept. 29 against Green Bay.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the pitch on Sunday, visiting Chicago State for a 1 p.m. ET and 12 p.m. local time game in Chicago.
