Box Score

ELON, N.C. (3/5/2014) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team was in North Carolina on Wednesday evening for its Atlantic Sun Conference opener against the Elon Phoenix and a last second shot from senior Erin Campbell with 26 seconds left was stopped as Elon held on for a 9-8 win at Rhodes Stadium.
 
Junior Tessa Keuler and sophomore Kylie Birney each had two goals offensively for Detroit (0-4, 0-1 Atlantic Sun). Junior Annie Mendoza, senior Erin Campbell, and freshmen Kelsi Pritchard and Julie Castner each had single goals for the Titans. Birney and Pritchard each had helpers for Detroit.
 
Junior goalkeeper Lexie McCormick finished with 10 saves for Detroit and had two ground balls. Sophomore Ally Shrader and Birney each had a game-high three ground balls while junior Morgan Lear also had two. Miller, Shrader, Birney and Pritchard each had one caused turnover for the Titans.
 
Elon (2-3, 1-0 Atlantic Sun) came out strong netting two goals in the first 1:14 of the game. The Phoenix added another with 20:46 to play to take a 3-0 lead before the Titan offense awoke from its slumber.
 
Detroit scored five straight goals to jump ahead of Elon by a 5-4 score as Castner broke through with her first collegiate goal 11:20 into the first half. Keuler scored two and then Birney added two of her own to give Detroit the edge with 11:09 left to play in the opening frame.
 
Two quick Elon goals within 1:12 of each other tied the game as the two teams headed into the locker room tied 5-5
 
A quick goal 57 seconds into the second half gave Elon the quick lead but Campbell and Mendoza scored for Detroit to put the Titans up 7-6. The two teams traded goals again as Pritchard's tally with 15:04 left in the contest gave Detroit an 8-7 lead.
 
The Phoenix stormed back and scored with 8:38 left and went ahead with 5:32 left in the game to take a 9-8 lead.
 
Elon had been trying to kill the final time off the clock and nearly spurned all of the last five minutes of the game. It was an aggressive play from Pritchard who forced a caused turnover and then grabbed the ground ball that gave Detroit one last chance as the Titans called a timeout with 43 seconds left in regulation.
 
UDM's last chance came with the Titans having the ball just on their side of half but above their own side of the restraining line. A few passes later it was in the Elon zone and Campbell was found open in front of the net with a great chance to tie the game. Elon goalkeeper Rachel Ramirez was up to the task as Campbell was stoned with 26 seconds left. An Elon timeout led to a good clear from the home team and a heartbreaking Titan defeat.
 
Detroit held a 23-21 shooting advantage and was successful on 13 of 16 clears. The Titans had the edge in ground balls 15-8 while Elon won 12 draw controls to seven for Detroit.
 
Elon capitalized on Detroit penalties as the Phoenix converted on four of five free position attempts.

Detroit will return home and have three games next week with two at Titan Field. The first is on Sunday, March 9 as Robert Morris will face UDM with game time set for 12:00 p.m. Detroit will then welcome Delaware State on Tuesday with another 12:00 p.m. start before heading to Niagara Falls, N.Y where the Titans will face Niagara on March 14 at 3:00 p.m.
 
Titan fans don't forget to follow #DetroitsCollegeTeam on Twitter and Instagram at @DetroitTitans and remember to like the Titans on Facebook at Detroit Titans. You can also follow the women's lacrosse team on Twitter @DetroitWL and on Facebook at Detroit Titan Women's Lacrosse.