Box Score

Seven Titans scored on the day, led by sophomore Anna Eidem's (Champlin, MN/Totino-Grace) five goals, and Detroit held off every Presbyterian comeback attempt as UDM turned aside the Blue Hose, 17-16, in the first round of the National Lacrosse Conference tournament on Friday afternoon.

“It was pretty hot today and playing with only 12 people and no subs, we were struggling at times, but we fought through it,” said head coach Mary Ann Meltzer. “We had to make some adjustments in the game, but the team played well and did a good job today with everyone contributing.”

Eidem not only scored, but assisted on three other goals. Sophomore Emily Boissonneault (Brooklin, ON/Donald A. Wilson) had four goals and a helper, while sophomore Corina Mahorn (Whitby, ON/Anderson CVI) added three markers. Also scoring on the day was sophomore Olivia Mendoza (Lansing, MI/Catholic Central), who had two, and one apiece from sophomore Jamiee Stoner and freshmen Zaynib Hamze (Dublin, CA/Dublin) and Lindsey Saunders (Pasadena, MD/Northeast).

“We had our three top players lead the way, but everyone played well and contributed today and that was great to see,” added Meltzer.

The win moves Detroit (7-11) into the semi-finals on Saturday where the fourth-seeded Titans will face the tournament's top seed in Longwood.

UDM was up by just one, 12-11, 10 minutes into the second half when the Titans got some breathing room with back-to-back goals from Saunders and Eidem. After a Presbyterian (3-13) goal, Detroit would increase its lead to four as Eidem found Stoner in front of the net and she put one in for her first collegiate goal, while Eidem added to her total with a marker at the 9:26 mark to get the Titans out in front, 16-12.

Two goals by the Blue Hose within 30 seconds cut Detroit's advantage to just two, but Eidem's fifth goal of the game with 6:28 left was the difference as the Titans held off a late charge to earn their way into the semi-finals.

The Titans led from the very start as Boissonneault ripped one past the keeper just two minutes into the contest. The goal started a 4-0 run by UDM in the first eight minutes to open the game.

Presbyterian got back in it with three straight goals, but the Titans stopped that spurt by scoring five of the next six. Mendoza started the Titan attack with a score off a great pass from Eidem. Detroit played team ball just a minute later as Hamze fed Boissonneault for another goal and that was followed by Mahorn's unassisted marker for a 7-3 Titan lead with 11:40 to go in the first half.

The red, white and blue would open its largest lead of the game, five goals, on three occasions including taking a 12-7 lead into the half as Mendoza found the back of the net just as time was expiring.

Freshman Marybeth Flanagan (Lansing, MI/Waverly) went the distance in goal picking up the win with 13 saves on the day. Hamze led the defense with two caused turnovers and six ground balls, both game highs, while junior Alysca Valentine (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower )and freshman Britany Busch (Clio, MI/Powers Catholic) each picked up four ground balls.

“Marybeth made a huge save for us late and really played well,” said Meltzer. “We had people step up like Alysca, Zaynib, Britany and Megan (Callahan) and do things that they haven't done all year, like Alysca taking the ball up in the second half as Corina needed rest, and we just played together as a team.”

The Titans will battle the Lancers tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., with a berth into the championship game at stake. Fans can follow all the action with live stats by clicking here.