Box Score

The Detroit Titans men's lacrosse team gave the defending MAAC champion Siena Saints all they could handle, but a late run by the home team was just enough to hold off UDM, 9-8, on Saturday afternoon.

“We played well and we came out ready to go,” said head men's coach Matt Holtz. “We led going into the fourth, but they took advantage of a few penalties and we just came up short.”

Junior Tim Lehto (Farmington, MI/North Farmington), sophomore Scott Harris (Saline, MI/Saline)and freshman Chris Nemes (Novi, MI/Detroit Catholic Central) each had two goals and freshman Joel Matthews (St. Catharines, ON/Holy Cross Secondary) added a marker and two assists.

Defensively, freshman goalie A.J. Levell (Columbus, OH/Dublin Scioto) played outstanding between the pipes, ending the contest with 14 saves and scooping up four groundballs. Sophomore defender Jason McDonald (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) picked up four GB's, while junior Adam Nolan (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) and rookie Jamie Hebden (Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice) each had a pair of caused turnovers.

“A.J. played out of his mind today,” said Holtz. “Herbst is the best goalie in the MAAC, but today, I thought Levell really outplayed him.”

Detroit (2-7, 1-2 MAAC) led by one, 6-5, heading into the fourth when Siena (5-3, 2-0, MAAC) knotted the game with 11:42 left in the contest. Detroit was able to regain the lead with a Lehto goal at 9:53, but three straight Saints' tallies in the next two minutes put the home team in front by two, 9-7. UDM fought back to within one as freshman Mike Fields (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake ) got a pass from Matthews and posted his first collegiate goal with 3:19 left, but Detroit was unable to get the equalizer after that.

The Titans got on the board first as Lehto beat the keeper just a 1:15 into the game. Siena came right back with three straight markers to end the first period.

The second quarter was all UDM's as the red, white and blue notched the period's only three goals to take a 4-3 lead into the intermission. Harris scored first and Detroit tied it midway through the second as Lehto fired a pass to Nemes, who ripped one past last year's All-American Honorable Mention goalkeeper Brent Herbst. With less than three minutes to go, Matthews notched his 26th goal of the year to give Detroit the lead.

The Titans did not let up coming out of the locker room as Harris once again scored early for Detroit with an unassisted marker at 13:59 to jump out in front by two, 5-3. The Saints answered with two goals in the period but a Nemes' strike at 5:38 made sure the Titans would have the lead entering the fourth.

Detroit forced 19 turnovers on the day and did a good job clearing it faltering just twice in 20 attempts. UDM was 0-4 with the extra man, while Siena was 2-of-8.

UDM will continue its Holiday Weekend in the Northeast as Detroit plays at Yale tomorrow. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.