DETROIT (10-3-24) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team continues #HLMOSC at IU Indy on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Michael A. Carroll Stadium on ESPN+.
A Look at the Jags:
IU Indy is 3-4-2 (0-2-1 HL) with setbacks against Wright State and Robert Morris followed by a draw at Oakland. The Jags were selected to finish in a third-place tie in the 2024 Under Armour #HLMSOC Pre-Season Poll.
IU Indy Rewind:
Sept. 30, 2023 – Detroit Mercy 2 vs IU Indy 2:
For the second consecutive game, sophomore
Tim Allos scored a goal while junior
Andri Myftari scored his first career goal off a penalty kick giving Detroit Mercy a 2-1 lead late in the second half. However, IU Indy scored a goal in the 89th minute off a free kick allowing the Jaguars to escape Titan Field with a 2-2 draw in #HLMSOC action on Homecoming Saturday afternoon. Sophomore
Quinn Tews made two saves to remain unbeaten in goal over the last four matches.
Last Time Out:
Sept. 28 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs Northern Kentucky 1:
DETROIT (9-28-24) - 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.
Solid Sylvain:
• 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), assists (2), and third in points (6) with Pierson.
• 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) and second at Notre Dame (9/24).
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).
• Junior
Tim Allos posted his first goal of the season to cap off the 5-1 win at EIU.
• 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 his 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 in Steps In:
• Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper
Viktor Sulc leads the team in saves (14).
• 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).
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).
Next Man Up:
• Freshman
Colin Monroe also made his first career start in goal at U-M (9/6).
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:
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.
