DETROIT (8-27-25) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team is off to a solid start against impressive competition with a scoreless draw at No. 12 Dayton in the season-opener, followed by a 2-0 shutout win over Mercyhurst at Titan Field in home-opening action. The Titans open a five-game road swing at former Horizon League foe Butler on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.
A Look at the Bulldogs:
• Butler opened the season with a setback against Western Illinois (1-0) followed by a win over BGSU (1-0).
• The Bulldogs hold a 7-21-1 record against the Titans
• Last season, Butler went 4-10-3 overall and 1-7 in BIG EAST play.
Monroe Named #HLMSOC Under Armour® #HLMSOC Defensive Player of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer Men's Soccer Team of the Week:
• To the victor go the spoils for sophomore goalkeeper
Colin Monroe. After being named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Defensive Player of the Week (8/25), Monroe was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Men's Team of the Week (Aug. 18-24).
• Monroe made 10 total saves, posting back-to-back shutouts to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-0-1 record against solid competition.
• He had quite the homecoming as the Willoughby, Ohio native made a career-high eight saves to record his first-career shutout, leading UDM to a scoreless draw at No. 12 Dayton.
• This marked the first time the Titans earned a draw against a ranked team on the road since a 2-2 result at No. 16 Ohio State on Sept. 26, 2017.
• Monroe followed that performance, making two saves to record his first career win and second consecutive shutout between the pipes in UDM's 2-0 win over 2024 Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season champion Mercyhurst, who was picked to repeat as champions in the 2025 NEC preseason poll.
ESPN SCTop-10 No. 1 Spot:
• Junior
Drew 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.
Instant Impact:
• Graduate student transfer
Ryan Sommerfeld scored his first goal in a Titan uniform, assisted by redshirt junior
Clayton Lafayette and the first career assist from sophomore transfer
Mano Karjian in UDM's 2-0 home-opening win over Mercyhurst.
Last Time Out:
Aug
. 24, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 2 vs. Mercyhurst 0:
Junior
Drew Pierson scored his first-career game-winning goal with a 52-yard free kick strike in the first half, while sophomore
Colin Monroe picked up his first career win and second consecutive shutout between the pipes as Detroit Mercy blanked Mercyhurst 2-0 on Sunday afternoon. Graduate student
Ryan Sommerfeld scored his first goal in a Titan uniform, assisted by redshirt junior
Clayton Lafayette and sophomore
Mano Karjian, late in the second half.
S
eason Rewind:
Monroe Shines with First Career Shutout as Titans Battle No. 12 Dayton to Scoreless Draw
Aug
. 21, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 0 at No. 12 Dayton 0:
Junior
Guershom Sylvain added his second game-winner and team-best sixth goal of the season, followed by junior
Louis Simon's first career goal as Detroit Mercy secured a crucial three points in the #HLMSOC standings with a 2-0 shutout win over Wright State on Saturday afternoon at Titan Field. Sophomore
Drew Pierson assisted both goals while redshirt sophomore
Quinn Tews picked up his second win of the season along with a combined shutout with freshman
Colin Monroe.
It was quite the homecoming for sophomore and Ohio native
Colin Monroe, who was lights out, making a career-high eight saves to record his first-career shutout as Detroit Mercy played a solid match, battling No. 12 Dayton to a scoreless draw on Thursday night at Baujan Field. This marked the first time the Titans earned a draw against a ranked team on the road since a 2-2 result at No. 16 Ohio State on Sept. 26, 2017.
Senior
Guershom Sylvain had the best chance for UDM (0-0-1) early in the game off a corner kick set piece in the sixth minute. Junior
Drew Pierson sent in a cross that went directly to sophomore
Evan Peleska just outside the top of the box. He sent in a pass to Sylvain, who took a shot and beat Dayton (0-0-1) goalkeeper Gavin Krenecki clean to the low right side, but it rang off the post.
UDM's defense was on point for the majority of the second half. However, Dayton had two one-on-one chances late in the game from Andrew Armstrong. In the 88th minute, he found space inside the box and ripped a shot, but Monroe challenged and cut off the angle to turn the ball away with a leg save. With just 14 seconds left, Armstrong broke free down the right side, moved into the box, and fired a low shot that Monroe stood tall making the save to preserve the shutout. Monroe's performance earned him Meijer Player of the Match honors.
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
John Nino defender, 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.
