Gameday Central
Game Notes vs. VMI

DETROIT (2/27/2014) -- Going back on the road for the second-straight weekend and the second time in a three-week period, the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team will visit an old friend as the Titans battle the Keydets of VMI on Saturday. Game time is set for Noon at Drill Field #2 in Lexington, Va.

Titan fans can follow every UDM game this season through the men's lacrosse GAMEDAY CENTRAL page located on the Titans Athletic Website that will keep fans one click away from all the action. This page will feature links for live stats (audio and video when applicable) as well as links for all the latest info while also making it easy to find the Titans on social media and to purchase photos and game tickets.

Detroit lost its second-straight game last Sunday as the Titans came up on the short end of an 11-7 decision at Robert Morris. UDM was led by junior Shayne Adams, who posted his second career game with five or more goals tallying five markers, while junior Chris Kelly got the start in net and made a career-high 18 saves.

VMI is 0-3 on the season with losses to Army, Navy and Saint Joseph's. The Keydets used to be in the MAAC, but are now in their first year in the Atlantic Sun for lacrosse.

Following the game, Detroit will return home to face Bellarmine on Tuesday, Mar. 4. Game time is set for Noon and fans be advised that the game will now take place indoors at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. For ticket information, click here.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to all home games can be purchased online, over the phone, by visiting the Titan Ticket Office or in person on gameday.

Tickets for all Detroit home games played at Titan Field are set at $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

For more information, visit DetroitTitans.com/tix or call 313-993-1700.

VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN
This is the first year of men's lacrosse for the Atlantic Sun Conference, but UDM is very familiar with a few teams in the league.

Besides its' 3-0 mark against Mercer, Detroit is 3-1 versus VMI and 1-2 against Jacksonville as both teams were members of the MAAC.

The Titans are also 0-5 all-time against Bellarmine, who will be joining the A-Sun in 2015.

DETROIT VS. VMI
This will be the fifth career meeting between Detroit and VMI as the two squads used to be conference foes in the MAAC.

UDM leads the all-time series, 3-1, with all three wins in the Motor City and the lone loss on the road in 2012, 8-7.

ABOUT THE KEYDETS
VMI has had a tough start to the season with three-straight losses to open the 2014 campaign. The Keydets started the year with an 18-5 setback at Navy and a home 15-6 loss to Army. Last week, VMI was upended by Saint Joseph's, 14-6.

Mickey Hofmeister leads the team in scoring with six goals, three assists and nine points. Mike DeBlasio has three goals and five points and was VMI's third leading scorer last season at 17 points, while Ben Huger, Dan Bull and Dale Mattice all have two goals apiece.

Tyler Prasnicki leads the defense with 12 caused turnovers, while Tom Brown has six for a unit that has produced 33 through the first three games. Prasnicki also has a team-high 10 ground balls.

Mitch Wilson has been the main faceoff specialist going 21-of-56 (37.5%) with eight ground balls and Evan Windisch has started all three games in net and has posted a .367 save percentage and a 16.54 goals against average.

POWER PLAY PLAYERS
The Titans have taken advantages of penalties so far scoring on 7-of-12 (58.3%) extra-man opportunities, while the defense has allowed just two goals in 11 chances (18.2%) with the man down.

KEEP IT UP
Junior Shayne Adams ran his streak to 35-straight games recording at least one point as he tallied five goals on the road at Robert Morris.

The streak is currently the fifth longest in the nation by an active player in Division I.

MAINI FIGHTING TO KEEP SCHOOL RECORD
Senior Alex Maini began the 2014 campaign as the Titan career leader in points and he has added to that with four points on three assists and a goal at Robert Morris to come into the game with 112 total points. He currently holds the school record by 12 points over current teammate Shayne Adams' 100.

Maini is also second in school history with 68 goals, trailing Adams by 17, while Maini also now owns the school assists record as his third helper at RMU gave him 44 of his career, passing Harris' 43.

ONE MORE STREAK
Junior Shayne Adams extended his double-digit streak in goals scored with five at Robert Morris.

Adams is currently tied for eighth among active players in Division I with a goal in 16-straight games. During this span, Adams has 40 total goals.

JUST HAVE TO START ANOTHER
Junior Mike Birney saw his consecutive goal streak snapped at 14-straight as he was held scoreless at Robert Morris for the second-straight year.

At the time, his 14-straight was tied for the 11th longest in the nation.

PROTECTING THE CAGE
Junior Chris Kelly got the start in net for the Titans their last time out at Robert Morris and he came up with a personal record-breaking performance.

Kelly - who was making just his fifth career start - finished with 18 saves, four more than his previous career best set against Bellarmine last year.

The 18 stops also tied him for the third most in school history behind the 20 Vince Diana made at Air Force in 2009, the 19 A.J. Levell had at Georgetown in 2012 and the 18 Levell made against Canisius in 2013.

OH CANADA
Junior Shayne Adams put together quite a show in the first half at Robert Morris his last time out as he scored five goals in the first 30 minutes of action.

The five markers were two away from his school record of seven he set against Mercer in 2011.

HICKS COMES UP BIG
Sophomore Damien Hicks knew he didn't play his best against Michigan, but he made up for it against Robert Morris winning 14-of-19 faceoffs.

The 14 wins bested his career high of 12 against Manhattan last season and was the most since Brandon Davenport (2010-13) had 14 at Canisius in 2012.

A MASTER OF HIS PROFESSION
Senior Tom Masterson has three goals and a team-high six assists through two games and has now scored a point in 13-straight games dating back to last year.

During this spurt, he has posted 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points.

Masterson is coming off a season in which he ended the year with career highs in goals (13), assists (13) and points (26).

BIRNEY GOES BOOM
Junior Mike Birney has five goals in the first three games and posted his sixth career hat trick with three goals against Michigan.

With the three goals, Birney has now posted multi-goal games in nine of his last 11 games and 10 of his last 13 dating back to last season.

Birney earned All-MAAC Second Team and was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2013 MAAC Championship, where he recorded eight goals and had a pair of game winners and a career-high five markers in the title game.

He scored a goal in 14 of UDM's 15 games last season, including 12 in a row to end the campaign, and had multiple goals on nine occasions with five hat tricks and that career performance of five in the MAAC Championship comeback against Siena.

MORE BIRNEY BITES
Junior Mike Birney had just 12 goals and 19 points in his first 19 collegiate games, but in his last 11, the All-MAAC midfielder has recorded 27 goals and 32 points.

THE BEAT OF HIS DRUM
Junior Scott Drummond was one of the unsung heroes in last year's run to the MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance and he started the season with a bang tying his career high with five points and three assists against Mercer. He then added a goal and two helpers against Michigan.

He saw his streak of 14-straight games with at least one point come to an end at Robert Morris, but has one point in 14 of his last 15 games dating back to last season.

BO KNOWS OFFENSE
Junior Brandon Beauregard ended his sophomore season in fine fashion as he tallied his first career hat trick at No. 2 Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Championship and then had two more against Mercer last Sunday.

In his career, Beauregard has 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points.

RELOADING THE DEFENSE
The Titans knew they had to build their defense back up after the graduation of a number of key starters and players from last year's NCAA Tournament team and after the first three games, it looks like Detroit has the right pieces to do just that.

Detroit saw Mercer commit 16 turnovers and 11 of them were forced by a squad that historically ranks among the leaders in caused turnovers. UDM came right back with 11 caused turnovers in the 20 Michigan had and posted eight at Robert Morris its last time out.

Junior defenseman Joe Gifford led the way with a game and career-high four caused turnovers versus Mercer and added three more against Michigan, while sophomore defenseman Jordan Yono came away with three against the Bears and sophomore Paul Bitetti had a career and game-high four in the close setback to the Wolverines. Bitetti then added two at RMU.

LETS PLAY MORE
Detroit played its sixth career overtime game against Michigan, falling 14-13, on Feb. 19.

UDM is now 3-3 all-time in overtime and 2-1 in MAAC play. All of the overtimes have been decided in the first extra session.

WHAT A CROWD
Detroit saw 1,909 fans come out to see the red, white and blue face Michigan on Feb. 19 indoors at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac

It marked the third time that UDM has played before 1,000+ in its history and it was also the largest crowd for a lacrosse game or any Olympic sport in Titan history.