DETROIT (9-8-25) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team's five-game road swing continues with a showdown at No. 17 Kentucky on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from the Bell Soccer Complex on ESPN+.
 
Take it Back to 2017:
Detroit Mercy is off to their best start at 3-1-1 since the 2017 season.
 
Battle Tested:
• UDM's game at No. 17 Kentucky is the second against a nationally ranked team, as the Titans posted a scoreless draw at No. 12 Dayton to open the season.
 
A Look at the Wildcats:
• No. 17 Kentucky opened the season at 2-0-1 with a challenging schedule beginning with a win at No. 20 Western Michigan (2-1), followed by a win against Bellarmine (1-0), and a scoreless draw vs No. 18 UCLA.
• Kentucky holds a 2-0-1 series lead with the last meeting on Nov. 3, 2015.
• Last season, U-K went 6-6-6 overall and 5-3-3 in SEC play.
 
Stackin' Up Clean Sheets:
• Sophomore goalkeeper Colin Monroe leads the Horizon League in shutouts (4) after the Titans' 3-0 win at Chicago State (9/5).
• He posted three consecutive clean sheets, leading Detroit Mercy to a 2-0-1 record to start the season.
• Monroe and the backline did not allow a goal in 374:21 total minutes before surrendering the first goal of the season at MSU (9/1).
 
Pierson Named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week:
• Junior captain Drew Pierson was named Under Armour® #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week (9/2)
 • Pierson scored his second consecutive game-winning goal in Detroit Mercy's 2-0 win at Butler, moving the Titans to 2-0-1 before a setback at MSU on Labor Day.
 
Captain Clutch:
• Pierson scored consecutive game-winning goals from his defensive position against Mercyhurst and Butler.
• His second game-winning tally came in a 2-0 win at Butler
• His first-career game-winner was a 52-yard free kick strike in Detroit Mercy's 2-0 win over Mercyhurst.
 
ESPN SCTop-10 No. 1 Spot:
• 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.
 

 
On the Board:
• Redshirt junior Zander Crooks, senior Silas Rustin, and junior Rex Pearce each recorded their first career goals in UDM's 3-0 win at Chicago State (9/5).
• Sophomore Rafael Moro Galvez added his first career assist, while sophomore Samuel Speen posted his second career assist at CSU.
 
Big Play Clay:
• Redshirt junior Clayton Lafayette 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.
 
Instant Impact:
• Graduate student transfer Ryan Sommerfeld scored his first goal in a Titan uniform, assisted by Lafayette and the first career assist from sophomore transfer Mano Karjian in UDM's 2-0 home-opening win over Mercyhurst.
• Karjian added his second assist at CSU (9/5).
 
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.
 
Last Time Out:
Sept. 5, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 3 at Chicago State 0:
Detroit Mercy had three players score their first career goals in redshirt junior Zander Crooks, senior Silas Rustin, and junior Rex Pearce as the Titans rolled past Chicago State, 3-0, on Friday Night at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Colin Monroe anchored the back line with his fourth shutout of the season, making two saves.
 
In the 22nd minute, senior Mateo Phillips took the ball deep down the right side and sent in a cross into the box that went directly to sophomore Samuel Speen. He hit a shot that was saved by CSU (0-5) goalkeeper Johan Morales, who could not contain the rebound, as Crooks pounced on the loose ball, firing it into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner, giving the Titans a 1-0 lead heading into the half.
 
In the 84th minute, Crooks was pulled down in the box, drawing a penalty kick. Rustin stepped up and delivered a strike to convert the penalty kick, moving UDM (3-1-1) ahead 2-0.
 
Just five minutes later, the Titans converted on a counterattack as sophomore Mano Karjian passed the ball up to sophomore Rafael Moro Galvez, who hit Pearce on the fly as he got behind the last defender on a breakaway. Pearce then cashed in a tally with just 37 seconds left on the clock.
 
Season Rewind:
Sept. 1, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 0 at Michigan State 1:
After 374:21 minutes of shutout soccer and three consecutive clean sheets, sophomore Colin Monroe surrendered the first goal of the season as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short, 1-0, at Michigan State on Labor Day at DeMartin Soccer Stadium.
 
Junior Drew Pierson had UDM's (2-1-1) best chance near the end of the first half in the 43rd minute as he almost connected on yet another long-range free kick, but MSU (2-1) goalkeeper Zac Kelly saved his shot.
 
After both teams entered halftime scoreless, senior Guershom Sylvain almost got the Titans on the board in the 55th minute of the second half. He broke into the box one-on-one with the last MSU defender and flicked a low shot to the far right post past Kelly, but just missed in the lower 90.
 
Aug. 28, 2025 – Detroit Mercy 2 at Butler 0:
Sophomore Colin Monroe posted his third consecutive shutout, making six saves, while junior Drew Pierson notched his second straight game-winning goal off an assist from senior Guershom Sylvain as Detroit Mercy blanked Butler 2-0 on Thursday night at the Sellick Bowl. Redshirt junior Clayton Lafayette added his second career goal with an insurance tally in the second half.
 
Pearson opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, giving Detroit Mercy (2-0-1) a 1-0 lead going into halftime. After recording an assist during the last game against Mercyhurst, Lafayette added his first goal of the season in the 59th minute to seal the deal. The defense stood tall the rest of the way, keeping Butler (1-2) off the board to uphold the Titans' third straight clean sheet.
 
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.
 
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:
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.