DELAND, Fla. – The University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team opened their five-game road trip with a gritty 1-1 tie at Stetson University on Friday night from the Sunshine State.
Â
For the third time in as many games to open the 2015 season, the match was a tight affair that had to be decided in overtime. Neither team was able to register the golden goal, so the match ended in a draw.
Â
With the tie, the Titans move to 0-1-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Hatters were denied a win for the first time in 2015, moving to 2-0-1.
Â
The tone of the defensive battle was set early, with Detroit turning away four Hatters' corners in the opening 10 minutes.
Â
Detroit blocked a pair of Stetson shots before flipping the field and pressuring the Hatters' keeper. Junior
Tyler Moorman, normally a starter, came off the bench and put the Titans on the board first, heading a ball into the net off a throw-in by
Jonathan Bohlman in the 29th minute.
Â
The tight match continued through half time, with each team receiving cards in a physical battle.
Â
Stetson broke through in the 58th minute as a shot by David Caufield was deflected to the foot of Lucas Diniz, who collected the rebound and buried a 15-yard shot for his sixth goal of the young season to tie the match, 1-1.
Â
The Titans re-grouped and got the ball deep into the Hatters' territory less than a minute later, but were denied the go-ahead goal on a pair of blocked shots and a save. The game would head to extra time, as each team was unable to find the back of the net.
Â
Stetson registered the only scoring chance in the first overtime, earning a corner kick in the 95th minute. The corner kick connected with Arturo Roosen, who was turned away before teammate Ian McCauley was also denied.
Â
Adam Clauss nearly netted the game-winner in double overtime, but his shot was blocked and the game would end in a draw.
Â
The physical match was highly contested with four total yellow cards. Stetson held the edge in shots (14-12), shots on goal (6-3) and corner kicks (8-4).
Â
Moorman highlighted the offense with a goal on two shots, while Clauss led the Titans with four shots. Bohlman was credited with an assist, while
Spiro Pliakos and
Jacob Prud'homme each registered two shots.
Â
Detroit senior goalkeeper
Nathan Steinwascher tallied five saves with one goal against in all 110 minutes in net.
Â
The Titans continue their road trip in the Sunshine State against Jacksonville on Sunday. The match is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET and is set to be broadcast on ESPN3.com.
Â