INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team was unable to scratch for a third straight game as the Jaguars dropped a key Horizon League contest at Carroll Stadium to Detroit Mercy, 2-0. The visiting Titans got highlight reel goals in each half and held the IUPUI attack at bay to collect a crucial three points on the road. 

Samory Powder staked Detroit Mercy (2-3-2, 1-1 HL) to a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute when he blistered a right-footed shot past Lucas Morefield from just outside the six-yard box. Demetri Pliakos setup the goal, sending Powder forward up the right-hand side before he drove home the winner. 

IUPUI (2-4-1, 1-2 HL) hunted an equalizer before intermission, but the best chances came on two corner kicks that were cleared out by Detroit Mercy defenders and a Kirezi Freddy strike in the 43rd minute that bent just wide of the right post. 

The guests wasted little time in creating some breathing room early in the second half when Pliakos laced a brilliant shot past Morefield from the right side. This time, Kyle Bandyk sent the Detroit attacker forward with a nice lead pass and Pliakos, given space, found an opening against Morefield for his second tally of the season. 

Owen Jarrell had IUPUI's best sequence of the second half when he had an initial header cleared off the line by a Detroit Mercy defender and a rebound attempt blocked away in the 69th minute. Head coach Brian Barnett moved center back Tommy Patacca into the attacking third down the stretch to try and jumpstart the offense, but to no avail. 

Sophomore Rayan Choukri was IUPUI's most lethal threat, but he was held to two shot attempts. IUPUI was outshot 13-8 overall and 5-3 on frame. 

Morefield recorded three saves in the loss and Jonathan Kliewer made two saves in the shutout for the Titans. 

IUPUI honored its nine-man senior class of Patacca, Gianni Catenacci, Ethan Diedel, Corey Goede, Cameron Haegele, Quinn McCallion, Anthony Saporito, Riley Shives and Matthew Skaar in front of a strong contingent of friends and family members just after Saturday's contest. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 29 when they trek to Cleveland State fora  7:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.