DETROIT (8-20-25) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team kicks off the 2025 season with a great challenge at No. 12 Dayton on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Baujan Field on ESPN+.

A Look at the Flyers:
• Dayton enters the 2025 season ranked No. 12 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches National Pre-Season Poll
• Last season the Flyers went 14-3-3 overall and 5-1-2 in A-10 play.
• After winning the A-10 Tournament with three consecutive shutout wins, Dayton defeated Michigan (2-0) in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 12 SMU (3-1) in the third round.
 
The Team:
• The 2025 season marks the 38th year of the men's soccer program.
 
Follow the Leader:
• Head Coach Nate Kopunek begins his third season at the helm of the program.
 
Home Grown Talent:
• Detroit Mercy has 20 student-athletes from the state of Michigan.
 
Around the Country:
• Detroit Mercy has five student-athletes from outside the state of Michigan in sophomore Evan Peleska (Minnesota), along with four from the Buckeye State in graduate student Ryan Sommerfeld (Ohio), redshirt senior Ryan Sanborn (Ohio), and sophomores Noah Sandahl (Ohio) and Colin Monroe (Ohio).
 
International Flavor:
• The Titans have five international student-athletes representing four countries.
 
• Redshirt junior Viktor Sulc (Czech Republic), sophomore Rafael Moro Galvez (Peru), junior Rex Pearce (Australia)
 
The French Connection:
• Incoming freshman Tom Nkassa joins senior Louis Simon as two student-athletes from France.
 
Returning Firepower:
• The Titans have 22 returners led by senior forward and 2024 #HLMSOC All-League Third-Team selection Guershom Sylvain, who led the team in goals (7 – T-3rd HL) and points (15 – 6th HL).
 
• Junior captain midfielder and 2024 #HLMSOC All-League Second-Team selection Drew Pierson finished tied for the team lead in assists (5 – T-3rd HL), and tied for second in points (11) and goals (3).
 
• Redshirt Junior Midfielder Clayton Lafayette saw action in 15 games, posting his first career goal at CSU (9/21) and assist at Green Bay (9/14).
 
• Senior midfielder Louis Simon started in 15 games, adding three points with his first career goal in a Titan uniform in a 2-0 win over WSU (10/26) and an assist in a 2-2 draw vs CSU (9/21).
 
Holding Down the Back Line:
• The defense will be anchored by senior captain Spencer Powe, who appeared in 14 games with seven starts and recorded his first career assist against RMU (11/1).
 
• Senior captain defender John Nino, also returns after posting three points with a goal and an assist for the second consecutive season from his defensive position.
 
Between the Pipes:
• Redshirt junior Viktor Sulc made seven starts last season, recording his first win in a Titan uniform in UDM's 2-1 mark over MKE (10/12) while posting a career-high five saves at Notre Dame (8/22).
 
• Redshirt junior Quinn Tews returns after appearing in eight games with five starts, making 14 saves with a 2-3 record, which included a shutout win over WSU (10/26) and a 5-1 win over EIU (8/26).
 
Newcomers:
• Detroit Mercy has a diverse group of eight newcomers, which includes five transfers in Mano Karjian (IU Indy), John Palomino (Centre College), Rex Pearce (Hartford Community College), Evan Peleska (UMKC), and Ryan Sommerfeld (Ohio Northern).
 
• UDM has three incoming freshmen in Aidan Buff, Lincoln Floyd, and Tom Nkassa, who will look to make an immediate impact.


Smart Cookies - UDM Earns United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award with Third-Highest GPA in the Nation
• 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 2024-25 academic year. The men's team posted an impressive 3.67 overall GPA to qualify for the 11th time, earning the third-highest GPA among Division I men's soccer programs.
 
Big Shoes to Fill:
• The Titans will look to replace the offensive firepower of Josh Copeland who was drafted by the Colorado Rapids with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, becoming the first student-athlete in program history to be drafted in the first round, and the second to be drafted, following Adam Bedell who was taken in the third round (45th pick overall) by the Columbus Crew in 2014.
• Copeland started in all 17 games and was a 2024 #HLMSOC All-League Third Team selection, finishing tied for the team lead in assists (5 – T-3rd HL), and tied for second in points (11) and goals (3).
 
Time to Prove Them Wrong:
• Detroit Mercy was picked to finish ninth with 32 points in the 2025 Under Armour #HLMSOC Preseason Poll.
• UDM 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.