DETROIT (4/30/2016) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team saw its season come to an end as the Titans fell at home to Marist on Saturday afternoon.
Before the game, Detroit honored its six-member senior class in
Paul Bitetti,
Connor Flynn,
Andy Hebden,
Chris Perry,
Mike Spuller and
Jordan Yono. All six were part of the Titans 2013 MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance as well as last season's school-record eight victories.
Sophomore
Mark Anstead led the way with a goal and an assist, while senior
Andy Hebden and sophomore
Alec Gilhooly also had goals. Hebden and sophomore
Will Kane tallied two caused turnovers and junior
Jason Weber made 11 saves in net.
Junior
Ben Gjokaj was 12-of-18 in faceoffs with a career-high seven ground balls and with the 12 wins on the day, he finished with a school-record 55.6 percent (74-of-133) on the year. Weber and sophomore
Austin Polson-McCannon also picked up four GB's apiece, a career high for Polson-McCannon.
Detroit (2-10, 2-4 MAAC) fell behind from the start as Marist (8-6, 4-2 MAAC) netted two goals in the first period en route to the 14-3 win. The loss eliminated the Titans from the MAAC Championship for the first time since 2010, their inaugural campaign in the league.
The Titans got on the board in the third as Anstead fed Hebden and he beat the goalie. Later in the third, Gilhooly took a pass from sophomore
Lucas Ducharme and scored with the man advantage and in the fourth, Spuller located Anstead who ripped one inbetween the pipes.
Detroit won the battle of ground balls, 26-22, and saw Marist commit 16 turnovers. The Titans were also a perfect 16-for-16 on clears.
Game Notes:
Marist leads the all-time series, 6-4… Gjokaj ended MAAC play 68-of-108 (62.9%) in faceoffs…He also took over the career school record mark at 50.9 percent (81-of-159), passing
Damien Hicks (48.6%)… Bitetti finished his career with 59 caused turnovers, fourth in school history… Anstead has 65 points in his first two years, good for 10th in school history, while his 33 goals are tied for ninth and his 32 assists are tied for sixth…
