(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list the photo credit as well.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
DETROIT – Oakland University will head into the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament on a hot streak.
The Golden Grizzlies put the exclamation point on their outright Horizon League regular season championship Tuesday with a 3-1 league victory over host University of Detroit-Mercy – the team’s fifth straight win.
Oakland (8-6-2, 6-1-2) extended its unbeaten streak against UDM to 14 games (9-0-5) in recent years.Detroit Mercy (3-10-4, 2-3-4) outshot Oakland 16-6 overall, including 8-6 with shots on frame, and even dominated off cornerkicks 10-0. The Titans struggled in the final third against Oakland stout back line.
Senior Alex Flowers (Schaumburg, Ill.) collected seven saves and the Golden Grizzlies lowered their team goals-against-average down to 1.32 for the season.
Oakland never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half. After Detroit-Mercy cut into the deficit in the second half, the golden Grizzlies netted a late insurance tally to create some distance and then held on for the victory.
It marks the second time in three games and third time this season that OU has scored three goals in a contest. The Golden Grizzlies have now outscored the opposition 23-21 this season and now average around 1.44 goals a game.
Oakland grabbed a 1-0 victory at the 21:51 mark. Jack Komparens (Holland/Midwest United) netted his co-team-leading fourth goal of the season off assists from Luke Benford (Salem) and Carson Ballaugh (Lake Orion/Vardar).
The Golden Grizzlies padded their lead just under eight minutes later when Milan Dajic (Belgrade, Serbia, Rudjer Boskovic) scored his first goal of the season, which proved later to be the game-winner. Julian Kanzler (Austria) and Andrew Darakdjian (Walled Lake Northern/Michigan Jaguars) assisted on the play.
After halftime, UDM (3-10-4, 2-3-4) really started to cook and were finally able to feast just over six minutes into the second half when Sylvain Gershom (Holt/Michigan Rush) tallied for the Titans, his seventh of the season, off passes from Tim Allos (Sterling Heights Stevenson/Vardar) and Josh Copeland (Birmingham Brother Rice/Nationals) at the 51:33 mark.
Oakland responded at the 75:36 mark when Darakdjian collected a pass from Andriy Bilous (Berkley/Liverpool FC) and blasted home his second goal of the season to cap the scoring.
Oakland has now captured two straight regular season championships in the Horizon League and have 13 regular season titles since moving to Division I back in the late 1990s.
The Golden Grizzlies will be the No. 1 seed and host the semifinals and finals of the Horizon League Championship Tournament next week. Oakland will take a little over a week to rest, securing a bye in the Horizon League Championship before playing in the first semifinal game of the championship on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list photo credit as well.)
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BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 41-50: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/boys-soccer-super-50-teams-positions-41-50
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 31-40: https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/boys-soccer-msn-super-50-teams-positions-31-40
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 21-30: BOYS SOCCER: MSN Super 50 Teams Positions 21-30:
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 11-20:
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 1-10:
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