DETROIT (3/25/2015) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team won its Atlantic Sun opener Wednesday, jumping out to a 7-1 lead en route to a 15-8 victory over visiting Mercer at Titan Field. It's the second time in three seasons that Detroit has won its conference opener.

The Titans (4-5, 1-0 A-Sun) scored the first four goals of the game, all within the first 11 minutes. Junior Kylie Birney scored the first goal 2:29 into the game, which also happened to be the first goal of the Atlantic Sun season. Junior Michaela Schwartz followed with two goals and Birney added another to give Detroit a 4-0 lead at the 19:49 mark of the first half.

After Mercer (3-5, 0-1 A-Sun) recorded a goal, two Detroit freshmen found the back of the net as Jessica Snyder and Jordyn Beam each tallied their seventh goals of the season. 

Detroit would allow just one goal in the first half behind a strong defensive effort and would lead after 30 minutes, 6-1. Mercer, playing in its first season of Division I lacrosse, had just four shots in the first half, while Detroit had 17. 

The two teams combined for 16 second-half goals and Detroit scored seven of the first 10 goals in the second frame to take a 13-4 advantage. Senior Tessa Keuler scored a hat trick in that span, while Schwartz also scored for her third goal of the game, tying a season high. Sophomores Julie Castner and Kelsi Pritchard each found the back of the net, while Snyder also tallied her second goal of the contest. 

Birney scored the final two goals of the game for the Titans and led the team with four goals on the afternoon, her fourth hat trick of the season. Detroit had seven free position goals and went 7-of-12 on free position shots. Birney was 3-of-4 on the free position, while Keuler was 2-of-2.

Detroit finished with a season-high 24 ground balls and the UDM defense also tallied a season-high 14 caused turnovers. Senior defender Morgan Lear had four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Schwartz finished with three ground balls, while senior defender Amanda Guthrie, Pritchard and senior goalkeeper Lexie McCormick each had two caused turnovers.

McCormick, the active career saves leader in Division I, finished the game with seven saves in net. It was her fourth game of the season giving up eight or fewer goals.

Erica Coyne led Mercer with three goals, while Kate Leone had two goals and two assists for the Bears.

The Titans next play on Sunday, March 29, hosting Kennesaw State in an 11:00 a.m., contest at Titan Field.