MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (2/25/2017) -- Sophomore
Patrick Walsh and freshman
Donavon Dempsey each tallied two goals, but an early deficit was too much to overcome as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team fell, 15-6, at Robert Morris on Saturday.
Sophomore
Matthew Vangalen tied a program record with a game-high four assists, tying
Alex Maini (at VMI, Mar. 1, 2014) and
Joel Matthews (at Quinnipiac, Mar 10, 2012) in that department, and senior
Kyle Beauregard posted a goal and a helper.
Freshman
Alex Jarzembowski won 14-of-21 faceoffs and scooped up a game-high seven ground balls and senior
Jason Weber made 10 saves in net.
The Titans (1-4) got on the board first with the extra-man attack as Vangalen found Walsh and he ripped one between the pipes at the 11:29 mark in the first.
Robert Morris (3-1) then reeled off nine-straight goals before the Titans climbed back in with three-straight markers.
Beauregard fed freshman
Seth Mendell and he beat the keeper with nine minutes left in the third period. Beauregard then put one in off a pass from Dempsey late in the third and the Titans were within 9-4 with 11:48 left in the game as the combination of Vangalen and Walsh struck again.
That was also close as the Titans would get with RMU going on a 4-0 run that was stopped by a Dempsey goal with 5:32 remaining. The rookie then came away with his second as Vangalen found him for a score with less than two minutes to play.
Freshman
Alex Akins led the defense with a pair of caused turnovers, while juniors
Charlie Hayes and
Pat Masterson tallied a caused turnover and five ground balls, a new career best for Hayes.
The Titans won the battle of ground balls, 35-33, forced 17 turnovers and were 16-of-20 on clears.
The Titans will now have a few days to prepare for their next game as the red, white and blue travel to Wisconsin to play in the annual Midwest Classic, hosted by Marquette. Detroit Mercy will play Bellarmine on Friday, March 3, at 5 p.m., and close out the event against the host Golden Eagles on Sunday at 4 p.m.
