SOUTH BEND, Ind. (2/27/2016) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team took on the assignment of playing the top-ranked team in the country on Saturday as the Titans fell at Notre Dame, 14-5, at the Loftus Sports Center.

Five Titans scored on the day as sophomores Mark Anstead, Sean Birney and Alec Gilhooly each tallied a goal and an assist. Seniors Andy Hebden and Mike Spuller also found the back of the net. Junior Jason Weber made 13 saves and senior Jordan Yono and sophomore Austin Polson-McCannon each posted a pair of caused turnovers. 

The Titans started the game strong as freshman Mike Sforza won the opening faceoff and the ball eventually found its way to Spuller, who fired one past the keeper for his first of the year. 

The top-ranked Fighting Irish squad then started to slow down the Titans and would go on a 7-0 run until Gilhooly found Birney for a strike with less than a minute left in the first half.

Detroit was able to beat the goalie three times in the fourth period as Anstead set up Hebden's sixth marker of the season. Back-to-back goals then ensued for the red, white and blue as Anstead ripped one in the net and UDM took advantage of a penalty with Birney passing it to Gilhooly, who tickled the twine. 

Sophomore Pat Masterson, Anstead and Gilhooly all had three ground balls and Polson-McCannon and Yono scooped up two. 

The Titans will return to action next week with a pair of games at the Midwest Classic facing Bellarmine on Friday (Mar. 4) and Marquette on Sunday (Mar. 6). The Midwest Classic is being hosted by Ohio State with all the games set to be played in Ohio Stadium. 

Game Notes:
Detroit trails the all-time series, 2-0… The first time these teams met was in the First Round of the NCAA Championship in 2013, a 9-7 setback… The Titans are now 0-10 all-time against ranked teams and 0-2 this season losing to No. 11/12 Ohio State in the season opener… It was Spuller's third career goal… Weber has now recorded double-digit saves in 25 of his 28 career games… Yono's career high in caused turnovers is three