DETROIT (10-7-24) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team takes a quick break from #HLMOSC play with a non-conference match at Bowling Green on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Cochrane Stadium on ESPN+.
 
A Look at the Falcons:
Bowling Green is 8-2-1 (3-1 MVC) with a 5-1-1 mark over the last seven games.
 
Familiar Foe:
On Tuesday night, Head Coach Nate Kopunek will face his old team when UDM travels to Bowling Green. Kopunek spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach at BGSU and during his tenure, the Falcons compiled an overall record of 37-23-10 with a 13-10-5 mark in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. BGSU advanced to the championship match of the MAC Tournament in his first year on staff in 2019, captured the program's first outright MAC regular-season title in 2020-21 and earned a berth in back-to-back NCAA Championship Tournaments in 2020-21 and 2021.
 
Under Kopunek's guidance, BGSU had four student-athletes earn All-MAC honors including Brendan Graves who was named Mid-American Conference Co-Goalkeeper of the Year along with Joey Akpunonu and Sergi Martinez who joined Graves on the All-MAC First Team season with Alberto Anaya earning All-MAC Second Team honors following the 2022 season.
 
BGSU Rewind:
Oct. 3, 2023 – Detroit Mercy 0 vs Bowling Green 0:
Sophomore Quinn Tews posted his second shutout of the season making three saves as Detroit Mercy played visiting Bowling Green to a 0-0 draw in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Titan Field. With the draw, the Titans are now unbeaten over their last five matches for the first time since the 2017 season. Detroit Mercy's (3-6-2) back line stood tall as they turned aside all six BGSU (5-3-3) corner kick set pieces.
 
Last Time Out:
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.

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), 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 Steps In:
• Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Viktor Sulc leads the team in saves (15).
• 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. 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.
 
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.