RIVERDALE, N.Y. (3/19/2016) -- Six different Titans scored on the day, and Detroit let up a program-best three goals as the University of Detroit Mercy started the MAAC campaign with a 9-3 victory on the road at Manhattan on Saturday.
The previous record for fewest goals allowed by the Titans was four in a 4-3 loss at Ohio State back in 2011.
Detroit (1-5, 1-0 MAAC) trailed Manhattan (1-8, 0-1 MAAC) 1-0 in the first and 2-1 early in the second when it went on a 6-0 run over the next three periods to take control of the game.
Senior
Andy Hebden led the offense with three goals, his second career hat trick. Sophomore
Alec Gilhooly had two goals and two assists and sophomore
Sean Birney had a goal and two helpers.
Junior
Jason Weber made nine saves in net and allowed the school record low three goals and senior
Connor Flynn played the final 2:59 coming away with a pair of saves. Junior
Ben Gjokaj was dominant in faceoffs winning a career-best 12-of-16 with four GB's, senior
Paul Bitetti posted a season-best three caused turnovers and sophomore
Pat Masterson had a team and season-high five ground balls.
Detroit had to wait a bit to get on the scoreboard, but ended up tying the contest at 1-1 with 42 seconds left in the first as Gilhooly set up Birney's marker. Manhattan took a 2-1 lead early in the second, but the red, white and blue squared things at 2-2 as Birney had the assist this time to Hebden.
The contest looked like it was going to be 2-2 at the break, but UDM struck for two goals in the final 1:05. Freshman
Patrick Walsh earned his first collegiate point on an assist to Gilhooly and after Gjokaj won the next faceoff, Gilhooly located sophomore
Mark Anstead as he beat the keeper for a 4-2 lead at the break.
It was a scoreless third period with Weber coming up with four of his nine saves in the frame to keep the home team at bay and in the fourth, the Titans completely pulled away netting five goals, including three in the first 3:20 of action.
Junior
Kyle Beauregard fed sophomore
Lucas Ducharme for a man-up goal at the 14:13 mark and another quick faceoff victory by Gjokaj set up that combination again in reverse as Beauregard hit the twine for a 6-2 advantage. Two minutes later, Bitetti caused a turnover and Detroit capitalized with Walsh finding Hebden for a 7-3 lead with 11:40 left.
The final two strikes came with less than five minutes remaining as Gilhooly scored on the man-up and Hebden tied his career mark with his third goal at the 2:59 mark.
Detroit outshot Manhattan, 30-25, and hustled all over the field for a 31-17 ground ball advantage. The Titans were also 2-for-2 on the power play and played brilliantly with the man-down holding the Jaspers to 0-of-5 with the extra-man attack.
The Titans – who have not played a home game on the year - will now get ready for their final non-conference game of the season when they host Air Force next Saturday, March 26. First faceoff is set for 1:00 p.m., and fans can purchase tickets by
clicking here.
Game Notes:Detroit evened the all-time series with Manhattan at 4-4… Detroit was 0-3 all-time at Manhattan entering the contest… Detroit is now 20-19 all-time in MAAC regular season games and 4-3 all-time in conference openers… Hebden also had three goals in the season opener at Ohio State… Bitetti's career high in caused turnovers was five against Bellarmine in 2014… Weber's career low in goals allowed was six on four occasions… Gjokaj's career high in faceoff wins was four at VMI in 2014…
