Membership: Detroit Mercy Gets Its Win
from press release
DETROIT - It might have been cold, windy and raining in
Detroit on Monday, but there was no better place to make some
history as the Titan men's lacrosse team recorded its first win,
16-12, over Presbyterian on Titan Field.
"It has been a long time coming," said head coach Matt Holtz. "The
kids have been working really hard. We have been working really
hard and today, we just outlasted them."
Freshman Tyler Staruch (Brighton, MI/Brighton) scored a
program-high five goals and added an assist, while junior Tim Lehto
(Farmington, MI/North Farmington) netted three goals and also had a
helper. Joel Matthews (St. Catharines, ON/Holy Cross Secondary) had
a pair of scores and assists, while sophomore Scott Harris (Saline,
MI/Saline) and junior Matt Gregson (Flint, MI/Powers Catholic) each
netted a goal and handed out two assists.
The game was tied at 7 early in the third quarter when the Titans
(1-6) broke the game open with five straight goals. Sophomore Ty
Maruyama (Lakewood, CO/Green Mountain) started the charge with a
marker off a pass from Harris at the 13:35 mark. Just two minutes
later, freshman Chris Nemes (Novi, MI/Detroit Catholic Central)
took a feed from junior Tim Shoemaker (Rochester, MI/Rochester) and
Detroit had a two-goal lead.
Staruch, who scored four times in the second half, then tallied
back to back markers, while Matthews finished off the great Titan
third period with a goal of his own.
"We always knew we had the talent, said Staruch. "We have been real
close to sealing the deal and today, we finally put it all
together."
Detroit saw Presbyterian (1-6) get within three twice in the
fourth, but the Titan offense never let up. Ahead 13-10, sophomore
Brad Janer (Novi, MI/Detroit Catholic Central) was able to notch a
man-down goal to really put all hopes of a Blue Hose comeback away.
UDM then sealed the victory with scores from Staruch and Gregson to
go up by five, 16-11, with just three minutes left in the game.
It was a back and forth affair to start the day, with Lehto netting
UDM's first two goals, the second starting a 3-0 run to put Detroit
in front, 4-2 in the first. Sophomore John Nowicki (Clinton Twp.,
MI/De La Salle Collegiate) and Staruch also found the back of the
net during that time.
"It's a team game and you can't just have one guy do it all and
today, we all stepped up," added Lehto.
Lehto's third goal for the hat trick gave Detroit a 5-3 advantage
in the second, but PC would later tie it on two occasions, before
Harris found the back of the net with 13 seconds left in the half
to put the red, white and blue in front at the intermission,
7-6.
The Titans outshot the Blue Hose, 41-20, and held the slim
advantage in groundballs, 43-35. UDM also posted 18 clears in 22
attempts, while turning over Presbyterian 25 times.
Freshman A.J. Levell (Columbus, OH/Dublin Scioto) was the winner in
net, stopping four shots on the day. Rookie Brandon Davenport
(Grosse Pointe Woods, MI/GP North) won 14 of 22 face-offs and had a
team-high seven groundballs, while sophomore Jason McDonald
(Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) scooped up six GB's with one
caused turnover and senior Chris Butts (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead)
had five groundballs and two caused turnovers.
The Titans will look to make it two in a row when Detroit goes back
into MAAC play this Saturday in a home game against VMI. Start time
is slated for noon.
