2009 Men's Lacrosse Schedule
Head men's lacrosse coach Matt Holtz and the Titans officially announced their 2009 schedule on Monday, as Detroit makes its debut into Division I lacrosse. UDM will have 11 games on its slate, 10 on the road, and will not shy away from tough competition as the Titans will face programs from the ACC, Colonial and the Great Western Lacrosse League, including four teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament.
"We are extremely excited about our inaugural season," said Holtz. "We know we have a tough schedule ahead of us, but we are working hard every day to get ready for the spring."
Detroit's first official lacrosse game will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the Titans travel to Columbus, OH, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. OSU was 11-6 a year ago, advancing to the quarter-finals of the NCAA tournament.
The Titans' first home game is set for Saturday, Apr. 11, when Detroit welcomes Wheeling Jesuit to Titan Field.
After taking on the Buckeyes, UDM heads to Kentucky for a road match-up with Bellarmine on Feb. 14. Detroit will then have a week off before it plays three games in four days, starting with a pair of contests in Pennsylvania. On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Titans will match up against Manhattan on a neutral site at Joe Walton Stadium on the campus of Robert Morris University. The Titans will follow that with a game against RMU on Sunday, Mar. 1. Just two days later (Mar. 3), Detroit will be in Chapel Hill, NC, for a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels, who finished the 2008 campaign at 8-6 earning the No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament.
UDM will have nearly three weeks off to rest before heading to the east coast, where the Titans will face the Bryant Bulldogs in Smithfield, RI, on Friday, Mar. 20, and the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Sunday, Mar. 22. Bryant is in its first year in Division I after going 14-4 a season ago advancing to the Division II Final Four. The Titans then head back to the Mid-Atlantic for a road date with Presbyterian in Clinton, SC, on Apr. 4.
After its home date against Wheeling Jesuit, the Titans will end the season in Colorado against 2008 NCAA tournament participant Denver (Apr. 17) and Air Force (Apr. 19).
Detroit will begin its inaugural season in Division I as an independent as it continues to explore conference affiliations. The Titans were 1-1 in the fall exhibition season with a 10-9 victory over Adrian and a 7-5 setback against Wittenberg.
