DETROIT (3/23/2016) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team will be busy on Easter Weekend as UDM prepares for one of its biggest games in school history when the nationally-ranked Air Force Academy visits Titan Field. It is the first time in school history that the Titans will host a top-20 program. 

Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., on campus and it will also be a special day for military personal as all veterans and active military members, with proper ID, will receive free tickets in advance or on game day. Additional tickets can be purchased for just $3 with those attending with the service member.

The game will also be on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App. 

In addition to the ticket promotion, the first 500 attendees will receive a Military Day Appreciation t-shirt sponsored by WADL TV-38 as the game marks the first time since 1958 that a Titan squad has hosted any of the three United States service academies.

It is also the first home contest of the season as Detroit has played its first six games outside of the Motor City. Last week, the Titans won their MAAC Opener, 9-3, at Manhattan setting a program record for least goals allowed.

It will also start a three-game home stand as UDM welcomes Siena next Saturday (Apr. 2) and Quinnipiac the following Sunday (Apr. 10).

For tickets to any home game click here.

FIRST TIME SINCE 1958
When Air Force takes the field on Saturday, it will mark the first time Army, Navy or Air Force will play on campus at Detroit since the men's basketball team hosted Army in the 1958 Motor City Classic

THE SERIES
This is the third career meeting between Detroit and Air Force with the first two meetings coming on the road.

UDM played at Air Force in its inaugural season in 2009 and also played the Falcons last season, falling 13-6 in both games.

ABOUT AIR FORCE
One of the hottest teams in lacrosse, No. 20/20 Air Force comes into the game riding a seven-game winning streak, the longest in school history. Overall, the Falcons are 7-2, including 2-0 in the Southern Conference, and are coming off a thrilling 10-9 overtime win on the road at No. 9/9 Duke on Tuesday.

Air Force has already played one MAAC team this year defeating Marist in four overtimes, 7-6, on the road back on Feb. 20.

Chris Walsch leads the team in all offensive categories with 33 points, 19 goals and 14 assists. He is coming off a seven-point performance at Duke with three goals and four assists and had two markers against Detroit last season.

Christopher Allen - who had three goals last year versus UDM - is second on the team with 21 points and 17 goals, while Nick Hruby has posted 19 points on 12 goals and seven assists.

Josh Radjenovich is the top faceoff specialist winning 71-of-130 (.546) with a team-high 41 ground balls. 

Doug Gouchoe has started all nine games in net and has made 90 saves, while posting a .583 save percentage and a 7.11 goals against average. He made 17 saves at Duke in the win his last time out. 

NO EASY ONE'S
The Titans have never been afraid to play anyone and this year is no different with one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in school history.

On the docket this season is Air Force, Notre Dame, Marquette, Michigan and Ohio State as the slate features seven opponents that posted a combined 56-46 record (.543) a season ago with a pair of NCAA Tournament teams, including Final Four member Notre Dame.

So far, the non-conference opponents have a record of 28-16 (.636). 

MORE ON THE SCHEDULE
The Titans have already faced three ranked teams on the year, the most  Detroit has ever matched up with in a single season. UDM is still looking for its first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked team as the Titans are 0-11 in their short history against top 20 programs.

Below is a look at the Titans' history against nationally-ranked teams
Mar. 3, 2009 at #3/3 North Carolina - L, 19-4
Feb. 5, 2011 at #17/15 Delaware - L, 13-5
Feb. 19, 2011 at #4/4 Maryland - L, 16-4
Feb. 4, 2012 at #19/18 Delaware - L, 19-6
Feb. 18, 2012 at #6/5 North Carolina - L, 18-8
Feb. 9, 2013 at #19/20 Ohio State - L, 14-8
May 11, 2013 at #6/5 Notre Dame (NCAA) - L, 9-7
Feb. 27, 2015 vs. #16/17 Marquette - L, 12-6
Feb. 13, 2016 at #11/12 Ohio State    L, 16-5
Feb. 27, 2016 at #1/2 Notre Dame    L, 14-5
Mar. 6, 2016 at #19/17 Marquette    L, 10-8

WEBER EARNS 7TH DEFENSIVE POW
By virtue of setting a school record by allowing just three goals in net, junior Jason Weber was named the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. 

It is the first time this season and the seventh time in his career that Weber has earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Week accolade. Last season as a sophomore, Weber was tabbed with the honor on five occasions.

The Titan goalie helped Detroit post a 9-3 road win at Manhattan in its MAAC opener by recording nine saves and allowing a program-record low three goals in 57 minutes of action. 

RECORD-SETTING DEFENSE
Detroit allowed a program-best three goals in its 9-3 victory on the road at Manhattan on March 19. 

The previous record for fewest goals allowed by the Titans was four in a 4-3 loss at Ohio State back in 2011.

The Titans gave up just 25 shots in the game, tied for the fourth least in program history and the fewest since VMI attempted 24 in 2013. UDM also won the battle of ground balls 31-17, tied for the second largest ground ball margin in school history with the 31-17 it had in the win over Marist in the 2011 MAAC Semifinals, and trailing only the 55-29 output in a road win at Siena in 2011. 

HATS OFF 
Sophomore Mark Anstead posted his fourth career hat trick tying his career high with three goals against No. 19/17 Marquette on March 6. 

His four hat tricks currently lead all active Titan players. 

THE GREAT WALL OF WEBER
Junior Jason Weber topped the country for the second-straight year with 14.43 saves per game last season, while finishing third in the nation - and second in the MAAC - with a .589 save percentage.

He has now recorded double-digit saves in 27 of his 31 career games, including 16 with 15+, 11 with 17 or more and two with 20 or more. 

In 31 career games – all starts – he has posted 453 saves, a .602 save percentage and a 9.77 goals against average, the latter two school records.

In the season opener, Weber made 18 saves at No. 11/12 Ohio State and he also had 12 at No. 1/2 Notre Dame. He picked up a career-high seven ground balls versus No. 19/17 Marquette. 

On the year, he ranks among the top 40 in the nation and the top half of the MAAC in a number of statistics including: second in the MAAC and 16th in the nation in save percentage (.550), third in the conference and ninth in the county in saves per game (12.0) and fourth in league and 37th in Division I in goals against average (9.93). He also tops the MAAC with 4.33 ground balls per contest.
    
GJOKAJ WINS THE FACEOFF
Junior Ben Gjokaj had a career day at the faceoff position at Manhattan on March 19 winning 12-of-16 with a career-best four ground balls.

His previous high was four faceoff wins at VMI in 2014.

RETURN OF THE SHARK
Sophomore Mark Anstead - the 2015 MAAC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-League selection - is back to quarterback the offense and with his goal last week, he has now registered a point in 20-straight games. 

Through six games, he leads the team in points (16) and assists (8) and is tied for second with eight goals. He is tied for seventh in the MAAC with 2.67 points per game and is fifth in the league and 60th in the country with 1.3 assists per contest.

He was named the MAAC's Offensive Player of the Week on March 7 - the second time in his career he has garnered the offensive player accolade - after totaling nine points on five goals and four assists at the Midwest Classic. He tied his career high in all areas with six points, three goals and three assists against No. 19/17 Marquette and that was after tallying two goals and an assist in the tournament opener against Bellarmine.

ANOTHER HEBDEN MAKING HIS MARK
Senior Andy Hebden tallied his first collegiate hat trick in the season opener at No. 11/12 Ohio State and is coming off another hat trick with three goals at Manhattan last week.

Hebden currently leads the team with 11 goals and is tied for second on the squad with 13 points. 

In fact, his 11 goals is already a career high surpassing the eight he had as a freshman, and he is just one point away from breaking his high of 14 points he registered back in 2013. 

A team captain, Hebden is the younger brother of former team captain and three-time All-MAAC defenseman Jamie Hebden '13. 

THREE IN FOR GILHOOLY
Sophomore Alec Gilhooly posted his first career hat trick along with a career-best four points at Mercer on Feb. 20. 

He just tied his career high in points with two goals and two assists in the win at Manhattan. 

He is currently tied for second on the team with 13 points and eight goals and is third with five assists.  

POWER PLAY
The Titans' man-up unit was tremendous again last season as Detroit was second in man-up offense connecting on 23-of-51 opportunities (.451) in the MAAC. 

That was after setting a NCAA record with a .708 mark in 2014, converting on 34-of-48 opportunities. 

In the last 33 games, UDM is 65-of-117 (.556) with the extra-man attack. 

SWEET PICKENS
Freshman Bo Pickens had a great collegiate debut collecting a game-high three caused turnovers at No. 11/12 Ohio State in the season opener.

SLOW BURN
Sophomore Sean Birney is fitting into the offense nicely as he is second on the team with seven assists.

FIRST POINTS
Sophomore Lucas Ducharme posted his first collegiate goal at Mercer on Feb. 19, while freshman Patrick Walsh had his first two collegiate points on two assists at Manhattan on March 19. 

TAKE IT AWAY
Senior Paul Bitetti leads the team with 10 caused turnovers and is third in the MAAC and 16th in the country with 1.67 caused turnovers per game.

He just recorded a season-high three caused turnovers at Manhattan in the road win last week. 

Bitetti is now fourth in school history with 52 caused turnovers, just eight behind Jason McDonald '12 for third place. 

A LITTLE WET BEHIND THE EAR
The Titans are one of the youngest teams in the country as they have 32 underclassmen on its 47-man roster, including 17 true freshmen.

Detroit also has just six seniors on its roster. 

NEW TO THE O
The Titan offense will need to replace some major parts with the departures of Shayne Adams, Brandon Beauregard, Mike Birney and Scott Drummond due to graduation. 

In total, Detroit will have to replace 91 goals and 134 points from last year's team.