KALAMAZOO, Mich. (9/11/2015) -- Sophomore Don Nakashima (Novi, Mich. / Novi) scored the game-winning goal off a corner kick in the 75th minute to help propel the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Western Illinois University in the opener of the 2015 Radisson Invitational on the campus of Western Michigan University.

The Titans improved to 1-2-2 on the season with the victory. Detroit is undefeated in the last two seasons in regular-season tournaments (2-0-1) after the Titans also won the UNLV Nike Invitational during the 2014 season. UDM closes out play at the inaugural Radisson Invitational on Sunday, facing St. Bonaventure at 11 a.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex.

Detroit earned its victory on Friday in come-from-behind fashion after giving up the first goal of the game in the fifth minute. Undeterred, the Titans picked up their offensive pressure and found the back of the net just minutes later as junior Tyler Moorman (Caledonia, Mich. / East Kentwood) scored his team-leading third goal of the 2015 campaign.

Detroit netted another in the 19th minute on a rush towards the goal. Sophomore Spiro Pliakos (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) fed a pass deep into the right side of the box, connecting with Moorman, who fired a tough-angled shot past the WIU goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. It was Moorman's third goal in as many games as the junior continues to establish a career-high in markers. 

Moorman nearly had a second goal early in the second half, heading the ball just over the crossbar in the 54th minute. Minutes later, senior goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) made two point-blank saves to help preserve the 1-1 game.

Nakashima knocked home the game-winning score in the 75th minute. Senior Alex Mendonca (Belle River, Ont. / Belle River) took Detroit's fourth corner kick of the half, serving it into the box. Sophomore Spencer Steinwascher (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) then got a touch on the ball right in front of the goal before Nakashima poked in the winner with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Western Illinois had two looks on goal the rest of the game, but neither was on goal. The Detroit defense was up to the task the rest of the way in securing its first win of 2015.

Steinwascher, who has started all five games, made four saves in net for the Titans. Moorman led Detroit with three shots and two shots on goal, while junior Matt Harkema (Hudsonville, Mich. / Unity Christian) also had two shots on goal for the Titans. Western Illinois had the edge in total shots, 10-9, but Detroit had the lead in corner kicks, 6-2, including all four in the second half with the last leading straight to the game-winning tally.

Freshmen Guillermo Potti (Santiago of Chile, Chile / Fenton) and Grant Harrison (Shelby Township, Mich. / Eisenhower) each made their Detroit debuts during the match, seeing time in the second half and helping preserve the Detroit victory.
 
The Titans return to the pitch Sunday for their final match at the Radisson Invitational, playing St. Bonaventure at 11 a.m.