DETROIT (10-18-24) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team is back at it with a pivotal #HLMSOC road match at Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Hefner Soccer Complex on ESPN+.
 
A Look at the Mastodons:
Purdue Fort Wayne is 6-4-1 (3-2 HL) on the season sitting third in the league standings with 9 points after a 1-0 setback at Oakland. The Mastodons were selected to finish fifth in the 2024 Under Armour #HLMSOC Pre-Season Poll.
 
PFW Rewind:
Oct. 14, 2023 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs Purdue Fort Wayne 1:
Freshman Drew Pierson came up clutch scoring a second-half equalizer propelling Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 draw against Purdue Fort Wayne in #HLMSOC action on Saturday night at Titan Field. Sophomore Quinn Tews made four saves to preserve the tie for the Titans.
 
Last Time Out: Titans Hold Off Panthers to Secure First #HLMSOC Win
Oct. 12 – Detroit Mercy 2 vs Milwaukee 1:
Here's Johnny!!
• Freshman Johnny Strickler picked the perfect time to score his first career goal as he delivered the game-winner off assists from sophomore Drew Pierson and redshirt junior Ryan Sanborn to lead Detroit Mercy to a huge #HLMSOC 2-1 win over Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon at Titan Field.
 
Junior Tim Allos got Detroit Mercy (2-8-2, 1-2-2 HL) on the board in the 26th minute. Sophomore Josh Copeland made a great defensive play deep in the Titans' end by taking the ball from a Milwaukee (5-3-4, 1-3-1 HL) player and dribbling up the right side before firing a long ball over the top of the Panther defense to a streaking Allos. Allos got in on a breakaway and took a couple of touches before going around MKE goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra, who came off his line and sent the ball into the net giving UDM a 1-0 lead heading into halftime..
 
Three the Hard Way:
All three goalies saw action in the Titan's 2-1 win over Milwaukee (10/12). Freshman Colin Monroe got his second start in goal making one save, redshirt sophomore Viktor Sulc picked up the win, and redshirt Quinn Tews closed the deal in the final 30:18.
 
WHu-DAK?:
• Senior Fisher Hudak had quite the breakout game, recording his first career goal while adding his first career assist at BGSU (10/8).
 
Stock is up:
• Junior Vincent Stockton scored his career goal in the second half at BGSU (10/8).
 
Sylvain is Solid:
• Junior Guershom Sylvain leads the team in goals (4) and points (9).
• Added his team-best fourth goal at Notre Dame (9/24).
• Named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week (9/3) after recording seven points with three goals and an assist helping Detroit Mercy to a 1-2 record on the week.
• Posted first assist on the equalizer against Chicago State (9/2).
• Third goal came at Big Ten opponent Maryland (8/30).
• Scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead UDM to a convincing 5-1 win at EIU (8/26) for the Titans' first victory of the season.
 
Pierson on Point:
• Sophomore captain Drew Pierson is tied for second on the team in goals (2), assists (2), and third in points (6) with Josh Copeland.
• His second goal of the season was a thing of beauty as he scored off a corner kick in the second half to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 draw against NKU (9/28).
• Posted first goal of the season at CSU (9/21).
• Recorded first assist of the season at EIU (8/26) and second at Maryland (8/30).
 
Defense to Offense:
• Junior Casey McCarthy leads the team in assists (3), is tied for the team lead in points (7), and ranks second in goals (2) from his defensive position.
• Third assist came in the 2-2 draw at CSU (9/21).
• Second goal and assist came at Big Ten opponent Maryland (8/30).
• Recorded first goal and assist of the season helping UDM to a convincing 5-1 win at EIU for the Titans' first victory of the season (8/26).
 
Cool Copeland:
• Sophomore Josh Copeland is tied for second on the team in goals (2) and points (7) while leading the team in assists (3), and with Pierson and McCarthy.
• Netted his first goal of the season from redshirt junior Ryan Sanborn's first career assist in a Titan uniform for UDM's first victory of the season at EIU (8/26).
• Added second goal against Chicago State (9/2).
• Posted first assist at Green Bay (9/14), second at Notre Dame (9/24) and third in the 2-1 win over Milwaukee (10/12).
 
Automatic Allos:
• Junior Tim Allos posted his first goal of the season to cap off the 5-1 win at EIU (8/26) followed his second goal which was the equalizer in UDM's 2-1 win over Milwaukee (10/12).
• Posted first assist of the season at BGSU (10/8).
 
On the board:
• Junior Louis Simon also posted his first career assist in a Titan uniform at CSU (9/21).
• Redshirt junior Ryan Sanborn posted his first career assist in a Titan uniform for UDM's first victory of the season at EIU (8/26) and second in the 2-1 win over Milwaukee (10/12).
• Graduate student Luke Winters, Nino and Pierson also added their first assists of the season at EIU.
• Junior John Nino posted his first goal of the season at Dayton (8/22).
 
Clay Making Plays:
• Sophomore Clayton Lafayette scored his first career goal in UDM's 2-2 #HLMSOC draw at Cleveland State (9/21).
• Recorded first career assist at defending champion Green Bay (9/14).
 
Saeid it Ain't So:
• Graduate student Saeid Jannoun posted his first goal of the season off the first career assist from Lafayette in the setback at Green Bay (9/14).
• Added first assist of the season at Notre Dame (9/24).
 
Viktor Steps In:
• Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Viktor Sulc leads the team in saves (17).
• Posted a career-best five saves at Notre Dame (9/24).
• Made two saves including a penalty kick save in his first career start between the pipes at Dayton (8/22).
 
Next Man Up:
• Freshman Colin Monroe also made his first career start in goal at U-M (9/6) and second start with one save against Milwaukee (10/12).

Tews The Rescue:
• Redshirt sophomore Quinn Tews faced six shots and made one save in goal to secure this first win of the season at EIU (8/26).
 
Team Captain Jackson Towers Named Team IMPACT Teammate of the Year:
• Detroit Mercy team captain and graduate student Jackson Towers and many others from the men's soccer squad have connected with Adam Clarke through the Team IMPACT program, which helps kids and teams change each other's lives through their shared love of sports. With the help of Adam's thoughtful and clever nomination, Towers was named 2024 Team IMPACT Teammate of the Year.
 
Season Rewind:
Oct. 8 – Detroit Mercy 2 at Bowling Green 5:
Senior Fisher Hudak had quite the breakout game, recording his first career goal while adding his first career assist on junior Vincent Stockton's career goal in the second half as Detroit Mercy dropped a 5-2 non-conference match at Bowling Green on Tuesday night at Cochran Stadium. Junior Tim Allos also added his first assist of the season on Hudak's tally.
 
Oct. 4 – Detroit Mercy 0 at IU Indy 1:
Junior Guershom Sylvain posted five shots with four on goal as Detroit Mercy came up short with a 1-0 setback at IU Indy in #HLMSOC action on Friday night at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Detroit Mercy (1-7-2, 0-2-2 HL) outshot IU Indy (4-4-2, 1-2-1 HL) 15-9 with five shots on goal while holding the Jaguars to only two shots on goal.

Sept. 28 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs Northern Kentucky 1:
Sophomore Drew Pierson's second goal of the season was a thing of beauty as he scored off a corner kick in the second half to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 draw against Northern Kentucky in #HLMSOC action on a rainy night at Titan Field on homecoming Saturday. Redshirt Sophomore Viktor Sulc was solid in goal making three saves while facing 18 shots.
 
Sept. 24 – Detroit Mercy 1 at Notre Dame 3:
Junior Guershom Sylvain scored his team-best fourth goal of the season as Detroit Mercy gave 2023 NCAA College Cup runner-up Notre Dame all they could handle before coming up short, 3-1, in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Alumni Soccer Stadium. Sophomore Josh Copeland and graduate student Saeid Jannoun each added an assist on Sylvain's goal while redshirt sophomore Viktor Sulc made a career-high five saves in goal.
 
Sept. 21 – Detroit Mercy 2 at Cleveland State 2:
Sophomore Drew Pierson scored his first goal of the season while fellow sophomore Clayton Lafayette added his first career goal as Detroit Mercy got off to a fast start but couldn't hold on as Cleveland State added two second-half goals for a 2-2 draw in #HLMSOC action on Saturday night at Aldo Santaga Stadium Krenzler Field.
 
Sept. 14 – Detroit Mercy 1 at Green Bay 5:
Graduate student Saeid Jannoun posted his first goal of the season off the first career assist from senior Clayton Lafayette as Detroit Mercy dropped its #HLMSOC season opener, 5-1, at defending league champion Green Bay on Saturday afternoon at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
 
Sept. 6 – Detroit Mercy 0 at Michigan 2:
Juniors Guershom Sylvain, Tim Allos, Louis Simon, and Mateo Phillips each recorded a shot on goal as Detroit Mercy suffered a 2-0 setback at Michigan on Friday night at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
 
Overall, Detroit Mercy (1-4) delivered a solid effort outshooting Michigan (4-0-1) 13-7 with four shots on goal and held a distinctive 10-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities but could not convert.
 
Titans Pounce Panthers
Sept. 2 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs. Chicago State 2:
Sophomore Josh Copeland scored his second goal of the season, but it was not enough as Detroit Mercy suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chicago State on Labor Day Monday at Titan Field.
 
Redshirt sophomore Quinn Tews made one save in net for the Titans (1-3), who fell behind early as the visiting Cougars (1-3) scored the game's first goal in the third minute of play. Detroit Mercy battled back all game as junior Guershom Sylvain assisted Copeland's equalizer in the 75th minute with a pass that got through the defense at midfield. CSU then scored what proved to be the game-winning marker in the 78th minute off a free kick despite some late attacks from the red, white and blue.
 
Aug. 26 – Detroit Mercy 5 at EIU 1:
The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team bounced back in a major way scoring three first-half goals over three minutes, and never looked back en route to a 5-1 thrashing over Eastern Illinois on Monday night at Lakeside Field to earn the first win of the season. The Titans' five goals were the most scored in a game since a 5-2 win over St. Joseph in 2011.
 
Aug. 22 – Detroit Mercy 1 at Dayton 5:
Junior John Nino posted his first goal of the season just before the end of the first half cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, that would be as close as Detroit Mercy would get as Dayton added three second-half goals en route to a 5-1 win on Thursday night at Baujan Field.
Redshirt sophomore Viktor Sulc made two saves including a penalty kick save in his first career start between the pipes for the Titans (0-1).  Sophomore Quinn Tews made a save in second-half action. Josh Copeland led the team with two total shots with one on frame.
 
Big Ten Times Two:
UDM played two opponents from the Big Ten conference in Maryland (L, 5-2) and Michigan (L, 2-0).
 
The Team:
The 2023 season marks the 37th year of the men's soccer program.
Head Coach Nate Kopunek begins his second season at the helm of the program.
 
Home Grown Talent:
Detroit Mercy has 25 student-athletes from the state of Michigan.
 
International Flavor:
The Titans have three international student-athletes in sophomore Viktor Sulc (Czech Republic) and incoming freshmen Louis Simon (France) and Rafael Moro Galvez (Peru).
 
Around the Country:
Detroit Mercy has five players from outside the state of Michigan in senior Fisher Hudak (New Jersey) along with four from the Buckeye State in graduate student Jackson Towers (Ohio), transfer Ryan Sanborn (Ohio), and freshmen Noah Sandahl (Ohio) and Colin Monroe (Ohio).
 
Titans picked sixth in 2023 Under Armour #HLMSOC Preseason Poll:
The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 Under Armour Horizon League Men's Soccer (#HLMSOC) Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
Proved Them Wrong:
With the win over Robert Morris last season, Detroit Mercy secured a spot in the 2023 #HLMSOC Championships after being picked to finish last in the 2023 Under Armour Horizon League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll.

Smart Cookies:
The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team continues to demonstrate the program's commitment to academic and athletic success by earning the United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award for the 2023-24 academic year. The men's team posted a 3.42 overall GPA to qualify for the 10th time. The Titans were also one of 111 schools with both men's and women's programs recognized.
 
New Staff:
Assistant Coach Zane Polack enters his first season with the Titans after serving as the Women's Soccer Head Coach at Owens Community College.
 
Polack was actively responsible for rebuilding the women's soccer program for the 2023 season by recruiting a 15-player roster and hiring two assistant coaches within a six-week time frame when Owens Community College, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), reinstated the program for the first time since 2016.
 
Polack also serves as a Director and Head Coach at the Nationals Soccer Club of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) where he coaches and manages operations for the U13 – U19 boy's soccer teams.
 
Additionally, Polack spent time as a coach at the semi-professional level for Nationals and Detroit Union Soccer Club, members of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL).
 
A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Polack played professional soccer for the Detroit Waza Flo of the Major Arena Soccer League where he made 100 appearances from 2011-2015.