DETROIT (9-14-26) – The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team closes out a two-game road swing with a trip to South Bend, Ind., for a non-conference showdown at No. 20 Notre Dame on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Alumni Stadium on ESPN+ ACCNX.
A look at the Fighting Irish:
• Notre Dame is 3-1-2 after a big win at No. 17 Clemson and is currently ranked No. 20 in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's Rankings.
• Last season, ND finished 9-7-4 overall and 3-3-2 in ACC play. The Fighting Irish defeated Michigan (1-0) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament before falling to Akron (1-0) in the second round.
• ND leads the all-time series 13-2 and has won the last two meetings.
• The last Titans' win over the Fighting Irish was a 1-0 decision on Oct. 5, 1995.
• UDM has never defeated a nationally ranked opponent in program history.
• The Titans have two draws against nationally ranked opponents: 2-2 at No. 16 Ohio State (Sept. 26, 2017), 0-0 at No. 12 Dayton (Aug. 8, 2025).
ND Rewind:
Sept. 24, 2024 – Detroit Mercy 1 at Notre Dame 3:
Junior
Guershom Sylvain scored his team-best fourth goal of the season as Detroit Mercy gave 2023 NCAA College Cup runner-up Notre Dame all they could handle before coming up short, 3-1, in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Alumni Soccer Stadium.
Sophomore Josh Copeland and graduate student Saeid Jannoun each added an assist on Sylvain's goal while redshirt sophomore
Viktor Sulc made a career-high five saves in goal. Notre Dame (3-1-3) got off to a quick start as Matthew Roou scored two goals in the eighth and 11th minute for a 2-0 lead. Just 1:58 into the second half, Sylvain connected on a shot to put Detroit Mercy (1-6-1) on the board at 2-1.
UDM battled the rest of the way, looking for the equalizer. However, the Titans were called for a penalty just inside the box late in the 87th minute. Roou connected on the ensuing penalty kick to complete the hat trick.
Last Time Out:
Sept. 12, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 0 at Cleveland State 2:
Sophomore
Thero Mitchell III posted a shot on goal while sophomore
Tom Nkassa and junior
Evan Peleska recorded two shots each as Detroit Mercy fell 2-0 at #HLMSOC defending champion Cleveland State on Saturday night at Krenzler Field.
Junior
Mano Karjian and sophomore
Lincoln Floyd also added a shot each to round out the seven total for the Titans (1-5-1, 0-2 HL). The game was a defensive stalemate over the first 30 minutes until CSU (2-3-1, 1-1 HL) got on the board in the 31st minute to take a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The Vikings added an insurance goal in the 63rd minute for a 2-0 advantage in the second half. UDM posted four shots overall in the second half but couldn't get on the board to cut into the deficit.
Johnny on the Spot:
• Junior midfielder
Johnny Strickler leads the team and Horizon League in goals (4) and points (8), posting two goals in a game twice this season.
• He notched two goals in the 2-2 draw at Mercyhurst (9/1).
• Scored both goals in UDM's 2-0 win at St. Thomas (8/20) to secure the Titans' first season-opening road win since 2020, earning #HLMSOC Under Armour® Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Thero is En Fuego:
• Sophomore
Thero Mitchell III ranks second on the team in assists (3 – 2nd HL) and ranks second in points (7 – 2nd HL).
• Scored second goal of the season against RMU (9/9).
• Recorded third assist in UDM's 2-2 draw at Mercyhurst (9/1).
• Made the most of his UDM debut, assisting on both of Detroit Mercy's goals in their 2-0 shutout at St. Thomas to secure the Titans' first season-opening road win since 2020.
• Mitchell III scored his first goal in a Titan uniform off a feed from junior
Samuel Speen at Dayton (8/28).
Pierson on Point:
• Senior
Drew Pierson leads the team in assists from his defensive position (4 – T-4th HL).
• Assisted on both of UDM's goals against RMU (9/9).
• Recorded his first assist of the season on the first goal at Mercyhurst (9/1) and his second assist against Duquesne (9/5).
All You Kadiu:
• Freshman
Daniel Kadiu scored his first career goal late in the game against Duquesne (9/5).
• Recorded his first career assist in a 2-2 draw at Mercyhurst (9/1).
On the Board:
• Freshman
Nick Kamugunga scored his first career goal off the first career assist from freshman
Michael Berry against RMU (9/9).
• Graduate student
Clayton Lafayette posted his first goal of the season with the equalizer late in the game against Adrian (8/24).
• Junior
Samuel Speen posted his first assist of the season at Dayton (8/28).
Lend a Helping Hand for ChadTough:
The Detroit Mercy men's soccer team raised awareness and vital funds for the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation for their Gold Out Game against Duquesne (9/5). ChadTough is dedicated to inspiring a game-changing surge in research for DIPG—the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer. Every dollar we raise pushes us closer to a cure and brings hope to families fighting this devastating disease. Together, we can change the game for kids facing brain cancer.
Detroit Mercy Sweeps Under Armour® #HLMSOC Player of the Week Awards:
• It was a clean sweep for the Detroit Mercy men's soccer team as junior midfielder
Johnny Strickler was named Under Armour® Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week and junior goalkeeper
Colin Monroe was named Under Armour® Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the league office on Monday (8/24).
• Strickler, a native of St. Joseph, Mich., recorded four points, scoring both goals in Detroit Mercy's 2-0 shutout win at St. Thomas, securing the Titans' first season-opening road win since 2020 and also handing the Tommies their first home loss after going undefeated (4-0-4) last season at South Field.
• Monroe, a native of Willoughby Hills, Ohio, posted his second consecutive season-opening shutout, making one save behind the backline that didn't allow a shot on goal until the final minute of the game.
Smart Cookies - Men's Soccer Earns United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Award with Top-25 GPA National Ranking
• 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 2025-26 academic year. The men's team posted an impressive 3.57 overall GPA to qualify for the 12th time, tying at No. 22 among Division I men's soccer programs, which also ranked first among #HLMSOC teams.
• A total of 338 men's soccer programs (across three NCAA divisions) posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2025-26 academic year.
2026 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll:
• Detroit Mercy was picked to finish ninth in the 2026 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll with 37 points.
• 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.
The Team:
• The 2026 season marks the 39th year of the men's soccer program.
Follow the Leader:
• Head Coach
Nate Kopunek begins his fourth season at the helm of the program.
Home Grown Talent:
• Detroit Mercy has 21 student-athletes from the state of Michigan.
Where You From?:
• The Titans also have six student-athletes from outside the state of Michigan.
• Ohio (3): Junior
Colin Monroe, senior
Ryan Sanborn, junior
Noah Sandahl
• Indiana (1): Freshman
Sawyer Beachy
• Minnesota (1): Junior
Evan Peleska
• Washington (1): Sophomore
Thero Mitchell III
International Flavor:
• The squad also has two international student-athletes.
• France (1):
Tom Nkassa
• Colombia (1):
Sebastian Sanchez
Returning Firepower:
• The Titans have 18 total returners.
• Graduate student Midfielder
Clayton Lafayette is back after seeing action in 17 games with eight starts and tied for second on the team in assists (2) and third in points (6), and was also tied for third on the team in goals (2).
• Junior Mano Karijan saw action in all 18 games with 14 starts and tied for second on the team in assists (2) and also tied for fourth in points (4).
• Scored his first career goal at WMU (10/8).
• Senior
Zander Crooks and junior
John Palomino also return after each scoring a goal last season.
Captain Leadership Holding Down the Back Line:
• The defense will be anchored by senior captain and 2025 #HLMSOC All-League First-Team selection and 2025 Sportsmanship Award recipient
Drew Pierson, who led the team in points (13, T-4th HL) and goals (5, T-4th HL), and assists (3) from his defensive position.
• Graduate student captain
Spencer Powe also returns after appearing in all 18 games with five starts, helping anchor the backline to four shutouts and three draws last season.
• Senior captain
Ryan Moody returns after seeing action in 10 games with one start last season.
Between the Pipes:
• Junior
Colin Monroe is back after leading the team in wins (3) and saves (37), ranked second in goals-against-average (1.69) and save percentage (71.2).
• Posted three consecutive clean sheets, leading Detroit Mercy to a 2-0-1 record to start the season.
• Named #HLMSOC Under Armour® #HLMSOC Defensive Player of the Week (8/25)
• Also was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Men's Team of the Week (Aug. 18-24).
• Made 10 total saves, posting back-to-back shutouts to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-0-1 record against solid competition.
• 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.
• He 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.
• Junior
Quinn Tews also returns after seeing action in nine games and leading the team in GAA (1.57) and ranked second in saves (35).
• Was solid in goal, making a career-high eight saves as Detroit Mercy battled arch-rival Oakland to a 1-1 draw in Metro Series action (10/11).
Newcomers:
• Detroit Mercy has a diverse group of 10 newcomers, which includes two transfers: sophomore
Thero Mitchell III (Saint Francis) and graduate student Gio Vovelli (Niagara).
• UDM has eight incoming freshmen:
Charlie Ahearn,
Sawyer Beachy,
Michael Berry,
Kaiden Demopolis,
Daniel Kadiu,
Nick Kamugunga,
Hayden Gaetino, and
Sebastian Sanchez, who will look to make an immediate impact.
Big Shoes to Fill:
• The Titans will look to replace the offensive firepower of 2025 #HLMSOC All-League Second Team selection and 2025-26 UDM President's Award recipient
Guershom Sylvain, who tied for the team in game-winning goals (2, T-2nd HL), tied for second in goals (3) and points (8), and tied for second on the team in assists (2).
Season Recap:
Sept. 9, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 2 vs Robert Morris 5:
Freshman
Nick Kamugunga scored his first career goal off the first career assist from freshman
Michael Berry, while sophomore
Thero Mitchell III added his second tally of the season as Detroit Mercy fell 5-2 to Robert Morris to open #HLMSOC play on Wednesday afternoon at Titan Field. Senior
Drew Pierson also assisted on both goals, giving him a team-best four on the season.
Robert Morris (4-1-1, 1-0 HL) wasted little time taking a 1-0 lead just 12 minutes into the game. The Colonials added back-to-back tallies in the 32nd and 35th minutes to take a commanding 3-0 halftime lead.
After RMU moved ahead 4-0 in the 55th minute, Detroit Mercy (1-4-1, 0-1 HL) kept fighting and finally broke through in the 59th minute. Pierson made a great individual effort to elude a defender and fire a cross into the box, where Mitchell III buried it with a header.
However, the Colonials answered right back just two minutes later. In the 84th minute, the Titans executed a corner kick goal to perfection as Pierson sent in a cross into the box to the far post, where Berry headed the ball back over to Kamugunga, who put it home back of the net.
Sept. 5, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs Duquesne 2:
After falling behind 2-0,
Daniel Kadiu scored his first career goal late in the game off assists from graduate student
Spencer Powe and senior
Drew Pierson, giving Detroit Mercy a chance. However, the comeback fell short as the Titans couldn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1 to Duquesne on Saturday afternoon at Titan Field. Junior
Colin Monroe made three saves while facing 14 total shots.
Detroit Mercy (1-3-1) had their best chance to get on the board in the first half in the 19th minute when sophomore
Thero Mitchell III ripped a shot from just outside the box that the goalie made a diving save, just tipping the ball over the crossbar. UDM couldn't put home the ensuing corner kick as graduate student
Spencer Powe's header from the cross was off the mark.
Both defenses were on point for a majority of the half until Duquesne (3-0-2) got on the board off a breakaway in the 42nd minute to take a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the 87th minute, Pierson passed the ball over to Powe, who slotted it over to Kadi. He, in turn, took off down the left side, dribbled into the box, and fired a shot past the keeper to the left, cutting the deficit in half at 2-1. After the kickoff, the Titans continued to press the attack, but the Dukes were able to clear the ball down the field as time expired to remain undefeated on the season.
Stickler Adds Pair of Goals as Titans Notch Draw at Mercyhurst
Sept. 1, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 2 at Mercyhurst 2:
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.
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.
Aug. 28, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 1 at Dayton 5:
Sophomore
Thero Mitchell III scored his first goal in a Titans uniform off a feed from junior
Samuel Speen as Detroit Mercy dropped their first road contest of the season with a 5-1 setback at Dayton on Friday night at Baujan Field.
Dayton (2-1) wasted little time getting on the board, connecting on a goal just 8:24 into the game. The Flyers added a second tally in the 16th minute, moving ahead 2-0.
After Dayton took a 3-0 lead in the 36th minute, the Flyers were assessed a red card just 10 minutes later, having to finish the game with 10 men. The card set up the best first-half scoring opportunity for the Titans with a free kick from approximately 25 yards out. Speen took the shot but was just off the mark, leaving UDM trailing by three goals at half.
In the second half, Dayton added another goal to take a 4-0 lead in the 57th minute. UDM kept fighting and finally cashed in just a minute later as the Titans kept the ball in off a failed corner kick clear by the Flyers. Speen sent in a beautiful cross from the right side into the box where Mitchell III nailed a half-volley laser into the lower left side.
Aug. 24, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 1 vs Adrian 2:
Graduate student
Clayton Lafayette posted his first goal of the season with the equalizer late in the game, but it was not enough as Detroit Mercy was stunned by visiting Adrian, 2-1, in home-opening action on Monday night at Titan Field.
UDM (1-1) dominated in corner kick opportunities 7-0, and outshot Adrian 15-4 overall.
In the 27th minute, the Bulldogs struck first with a long-range rocket volley into the upper 90 off a header clear attempt for a 1-0 lead.
After trailing at the half, the Titans pushed the pace and controlled possession for a majority of the second half. Detroit Mercy cashed in on a corner kick in the 82nd minute as Lafayette headed in a loose ball from a service into traffic inside the box for the equalizer.
However, the game would not stay square for long as Adrian picked the perfect time to hit on a counter, which led to a breakaway game-winning goal in the 84th minute.
Strickler Scores Two Goals as Titans Blank St. Thomas to Secure First Season-Opening Road Win Since 2020
Aug. 20, 2026 – Detroit Mercy 2 at St. Thomas 0:
Junior
Johnny Strickler connected on a pair of goals off feeds from sophomore
Thero Mitchell III as Detroit Mercy shut out St. Thomas, 2-0, to secure the Titans' first season-opening road win since 2020 on Thursday afternoon. Junior
Colin Monroe posted his second consecutive season-opening shutout, making one save behind the backline that didn't allow a shot on goal until the final minute of the game. UDM's victory also handed the Tommies their first home loss after going undefeated (4-0-4) last season at South Field.
