INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis men's soccer team returns to Michael A. Carroll stadium for a Friday (Oct. 4) night Horizon League matchup against visiting Detroit Mercy. Both squads are in search of their first conference victory in this crucial game.

The Jaguars (3-4-2, 0-2-1) are coming off a scoreless draw at Oakland on Saturday (Sept. 28), its first point in four matches after falling in the previous three, including its first two league contests. Head coach Sid van Druenen was pleased with the performance, especially on the defensive end, after giving up seven goals in the previous three games. Goalkeeper Mason Taylor was again outstanding, earning the league's defensive player of the week for the second time this season following his six save shutout performance. The clean sheet was the graduate transfer's third of the season.

Detroit Mercy (1-6-2, 0-1-2) has bounced back in conference play after a 5-1 defeat at Green Bay, earning a point in each of its last two matches (at Cleveland State and against Northern Kentucky). The Titans have played a difficult non-conference schedule that featured two Big Ten squads (Maryland and Michigan) and Notre Dame.

The Titans have had eight players find the back of the net, led by Guershom Silvain who has netted four times on the year. A trio of playmakers follow closely behind on the score sheet, with Josh Copeland and Drew Pierson each tallying a pair of goals and assists and Casey McCarthy adding one more assist for seven total points (2g, 3a).

Two keepers have split time between the pipes for Detroit Mercy up to this point in the year. Victor Sulc has started all five matches he has appeared in, totaling 405 minutes and 14 saves. Quinn Tews has amassed 315 minutes, eight saves, while also earning the team's lone victory of the year at Eastern Illinois.

Friday's contest will be the 19th all-time meeting between the sides, with the Titans holding the edge (9-4-5). The Jags, however, earned the last victory of the series, coming in 2022. The 2021 and '23 contests both ended in draws, with last year's match featuring some late drama. After a second half penalty gave the Titans the lead, a ten-man Jaguar squad equalized at the buzzer on an incredible free kick from Lukas Hackaa.