DETROIT (9-19-24) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team continues #HLMOSC play at Cleveland State on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.
A Look at the Vikings:
Cleveland State is 2-3-2 (0-1 HL) on the season after dropping their league opener to Oakland followed by a non-conference setback against No. 2 Pitt. CSU was selected to finish second in the 2024 Under Armour #HLMSOC Pre-Season Poll.
Last Time Out:
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.
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.
Sylvain Named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week:
UDM forward
Guershom Sylvain was named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week announced by the league office on Monday.
• Sylvain recorded seven points scoring three goals with an assist helping Detroit Mercy to a 1-2 record on the week
• The Lansing, Mich. native scored two goals including the game-winner to lead UDM to a convincing 5-1 win at EIU for the Titans' first victory of the season
• Posted his third goal of the week at Big Ten opponent Maryland
• Assisted on the equalizer against Chicago State
On the board:
• Graduate student
Saeid Jannoun posted his first goal of the season off the first career assist from senior
Clayton Lafayette in the setback at Green Bay (9/14).
Defense to Offense:
• Junior
Casey McCarthy has posted six total points scoring two goals while adding two assists from his defensive position helping Detroit Mercy to a 1-2 record on the week
• McCarthy recorded his 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.
• McCarthy added another goal and assist at Big Ten opponent Maryland (8/30).
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).
Plenty of Points to Go Around:
• Junior
Guershom Sylvain led the way scoring the two goals in the Titans' convincing 5-1 win at EIU (8/26).
• Junior
Casey McCarthy posted his first goal of the season and added an assist from his defensive position
• Sophomore
Josh Copeland netted his first goal of the season which was UDM's third tally from redshirt junior
Ryan Sanborn's first career assist in a Titan uniform for a commanding 3-0 lead.
• Junior
Tim Allos posted his first goal of the season to cap off the 5-1 win
• Sophomore
Drew Pierson and graduate student
Luke Winters also added their first assists of the season.
• Copeland posted his second goal of the season against Chicago State (9/2).
Next Man Up:
• Freshman
Colin Monroe also made his first career start in goal at U-M (9/6).
• Redshirt sophomore
Viktor Sulc made two saves including a penalty kick save in his first career start between the pipes at Dayton (8/22).
Season Rewind:
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 were unable to 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.
Dayton (1-0) got on the board first in the 39th minute off an own goal. The Flyers had a chance to move ahead 2-0 in the 28th minute on a penalty kick but Sulc made a diving save, keeping the deficit at one goal.
Dayton would not be denied as they took a 2-0 lead in the 39th minute. UDM responded just before the half in the 43rd minute as sophomore
Drew Pierson sent in a corner kick cross that bounced around in traffic in front of the net. Nino was able to fire a shot that just went over the goal line for a split second before Dayton goalkeeper Dario Caetano knocked it away pulling the Titans within a goal at 2-1 heading to halftime.
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.
