GREENWOOD, IND. (11-25-25) – Six Detroit Mercy men's soccer student-athletes, including redshirt junior
Clayton Lafayette, senior
John Nino, senior
Mateo Phillips, junior
Drew Pierson, senior
Louis Simon, and sophomore
Samuel Speen, were named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Team.
The 2025 Academic All-District® Men's Soccer Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the pitch and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes men's soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Clayton Lafayette
GPA: 3.72
Major: Business Administration
• Horizon League Fall and Spring Honor Roll selection
• Two-time Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection
2025 Highlights:
• Tied for second on the team in goals (2), points (6), and assists (2).
• Scored a goal and assisted on senior
Guershom Sylvain's game-winner in the 2-1 win over #HLMSOC preseason favorite Green Bay (9/20).
• Posted points in two consecutive matches, recording his first goal of the season in UDM's 2-0 win at Butler and his first assist on the second goal in the 2-0 win over Mercyhurst.
John Nino
GPA: 3.85
Major: Business Administration
• 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Team selection
• Two-time Horizon League Fall and Spring Honor Roll selection
• Three-time Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection.
2025 Highlights:
• Saw action in 16 games with 15 starts.
• Helped anchor the backline to four shutouts on the season.
Mateo Phillips
GPA: 3.74
Major: Business Administration
• Two-time Horizon League Fall and Spring Honor Roll selection
• Three-time Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection
2025 Highlights:
• Saw action in 17 games with 15 starts.
• Helped anchor the backline to four shutouts on the season.
Drew Pierson
GPA: 3.98
Major: Business Administration
• 2025 and 2024 Horizon League All-Academic Team selection
• 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Team selection.
• Horizon League Fall and Spring Honor Roll selection
• Two-time Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection.
2025 Highlights:
• Recoded team best third assist vs PFW (10/31).
• Tied for second in the Horizon League in game-winning goals (2), scoring consecutive game-winners against Mercyhurst and Butler.
• Recorded a pair of assists on both goals on his birthday in UDM's 2-1 win over #HLMSOC preseason favorite Green Bay (9/20).
• Named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week (9/2)
• Scored second game-winning tally in a 2-0 win at Butler.
• Pierson's first career game-winning goal was a memorable one. He connected on a 52-yard free kick strike in Detroit Mercy's 2-0 win over Mercyhurst, which earned the No. 1 play on the ESPN SCTop-10 on Aug. 24, 2025.
PK Sniper:
• Three of Pierson's goals have come from penalty kicks.
• Added third penalty kick goal at IU Indy (10/25).
• Posted second consecutive penalty kick goal vs NKU (10/4).
• The third goal of the season was a penalty kick at Duquesne (9/30).
Louis Simon
GPA: 3.93
Major: Business Administration
• Horizon League Fall and Spring Honor Roll selection
• Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection
2025 Highlights:
• Saw action in 15 games with 13 starts.
Samuel Speen
GPA: 3.59
Major: Business Administration
• Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Honor Roll selection
2025 Highlights:
• Saw action in all 18 games with 10 starts.
• Helped anchor the backline to four shutouts on the season.
• Posted his second career assist at Chicago State (9/5).
