ERIE, Pa. (9-1-26) - For the second time this season, junior
Johnny Strickler posted two goals, with the first coming off the first career assist from freshman
Daniel Kadiu along with senior
Drew Pierson and the second from sophomore
Thero Mitchell III, giving Detroit Mercy a 2-1 second-half lead. However, Mercyhurst got the equalizer late in the 88th minute to escape with a 2-2 draw on Tuesday afternoon at Saxton Stadium.
"We are proud of the fight and determination to come back into the game after going down 1-0 in the first half," said Head Coach
Nate Kopunek. "Two quick goals for Johnny came up important to ultimately earn us a road point. We asked a lot of our guys to step into the cauldron today, and they continue to push the group forward.
Most of the first half was scoreless until Mercyhurst (1-2-1) got on the board late in the 42nd minute to take a 1-0 halftime lead.
Detroit Mercy's (1-2-1) offense jumped into high gear as Pierson got the ball back off a throw-in and sent a long cross from the right side into the box. Kadiu won the ball in the air and headed it over to a streaking Stickler, who got in between two defenders and put the equalizer home at the 66:06 mark.
Just 50 seconds later (66:56), UDM forced a turnover, and Mitchell III was off to the races on the counter, making a long run down the right side. He beat the last defender and slotted a pass into the box where Stickler was once again Johnny on the spot, with the finish in space giving the Titans a 2-1 lead.
UDM's defense held strong over the next 22 minutes until the Lakers cashed in off a corner kick to get the equalizer.
Detroit Mercy returns to Titan Field for the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation childhood cancer awareness game against Duquesne on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 4 p.m.
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