Senior Day On Saturday As Titans Host Cleveland State

DETROIT (4/26/2018) -- The Titans will look to close out the regular season by extending their winning streak to a school record four-straight games, all while giving their seniors a great senior day gift as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team welcomes Cleveland State on Saturday.

Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Titan Field and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Prior to the game, the Titans will honor nine seniors who will be on Titan Field for the final time in Sean Birney, Marcus Butters, Lucas Ducharme, Alec Gilhooly, Charlie Hayes, Will Kane, Pat Masterson, Bryan Matney and Travis Sparling.

The Titans already know their postseason path as they will be the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Championship and will play the winner of Friday's Canisius-Monmouth victor in the semifinals on May 3. The Titans can also win a share of the MAAC regular season title if Quinnipiac falls to Marist on Saturday, but the Bobcats would still get the top seed as a result of their head-to-head win earlier this season.

Detroit Mercy has won three in a row – the sixth time in school history it has posted a three-game winning streak – but the Titans have never extended it beyond that. A win would also tie the school record for most wins and guarantee the red, white and blue just their second winning season with the 2015 squad that went 8-6.

Tickets start at $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors and can be purchased at the venue or online by clicking here.

AGAINST THE MAAC

Detroit Mercy is 29-27 in regular season league play since joining the MAAC in 2010.
The Titans just set their all-time win mark for conference games in a season as their 5-1 mark broke the 4-2 record in 2011 and 2015.

MAAC POSTSEASON

Detroit Mercy can win a share of the regular season title if Marist were to upset Quinnipiac on Saturday (1 PM). That would leave the Titans and Bobcats at 5-1, but QU would have the top seed due to a head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Titans know that they have clinched the No. 2 seed and will play the No. 3 seed in the winner of Friday's Monmouth-Canisius game, with the other team getting the No. 4 seed.
It is the seventh time in nine seasons of MAAC affiliation that the Titans have qualified for postseason play.

ALL-TIME SERIES

The two teams have met just once as Cleveland State won the inaugural match-up last season, 13-6, at home.

ONE MORE WIN AWAY

Detroit Mercy comes into the game at 7-6 and is just one away from tying the school record of eight wins it posted in 2015, when the red, white and blue went 8-6.

RALLY HISTORY

With their win at Canisius, the Titans now have seven fourth-quarter comebacks in their history with three coming this season and another two last year.
Interesting stat is both this year and last year's come-from-behind wins have been on the road, and six of the seven have been away from home.
At Canisius, Detroit Mercy found itself down 5-1 early in the second and 10-7 early in the fourth when the red, white and blue ended the game on a 5-0 run to earn the 12-10 road win over the Golden Griffins.
Earlier this season, the Titans were down 7-2 at Mercer early in the third and 7-3 after 45 minutes when they rallied to knot it at 7-7 and eventually won it in overtime, 8-7. The five-goal comeback is tied for the largest deficit overcome in school history.
At Monmouth two weeks ago, Detroit Mercy trailed 8-7 late in the fourth when it scored with six seconds left to tie it and then won in overtime, 9-8.
Last year at Siena, Detroit Mercy trailed the Saints 5-0 in the first period and 13-10 in the fourth when the Titans stormed back for a 14-13 victory. Detroit Mercy scored three goals in the last 3:43 and blanked the Saints in the final period, 4-0.
The Titans had a five-goal rally against Siena in the 2013 MAAC Championship (trailed 8-3 in the second and 9-4 in the third), when Detroit Mercy won 11-10 in overtime.
Also against Monmouth in 2015, Detroit Mercy trailed 8-4 heading into the fourth, but on the strength of a 5-0 run, the Titans came back to defeat the Hawks, 9-8.
That game marked the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in school history.
The other two games were in the 2013 MAAC Championship against Siena (down 10-9 and won in overtime, 11-10) and in 2014 against Mercer (down 9-8 and won 11-10).

BALANCED OFFENSE

The Titans have seen 16 players score a goal this season, with eight registering at least five goals and seven with at least 10 markers.
The 16 Titans that have scored are the fourth most in school history behind the 20 in 2012, 18 in 2015 and 17 in 2013.
Meanwhile, the seven double-digit goal scores are the most ever on a Titan squad.

SETTING NEW TEAM STANDARDS

Detroit Mercy is on the verge of setting a few new season records.
At the moment, the 2018 team tops the school history in points per game (16.31), goals per game (10.15), shots per game (35.77) and goals against average (9.60).
The team also has 212 points on the year, tied for fifth in school history and just nine off the top spot.
Their 132 goals is eighth in school history, 17 away from the school record, while the 80 assists are the fourth most and 11 away from number one.

GIVE ME THAT

Detroit Mercy has had a history of being among the leaders in caused turnovers and the Titans are regaining that form this season.
The Titans currently lead the MAAC and are tied for seventh in the nation with 8.77 caused turnovers per game.
Detroit Mercy had a season-high 13 caused turnovers at Mercer and also recorded 12 at Manhattan, at Jacksonville against Bellarmine and versus Siena.
The Titan trio of Charlie Hayes (28), Sam Horton (16) and Pat Masterson (15) have combined for 59 caused turnovers, sixth most among a trio of defenders at Division I.
The red, white and blue led the nation in caused turnovers in 2011 (11.63) and 2012 (10.47) and finished tied for second in 2013 (10.00) and third in 2010 (10.47).

MAN DOWN, NOT A PROBLEM

The Titans are third in the MAAC on the penalty kill at 66.0 percent, allowing just 17 goals in 50 opportunities.

NO ROOKIE JITTERS

Redshirt freshman Logan Shamblin showed no signs of being nervous as he earned the start at No. 6 Notre Dame in the season opener.
He finished with 11 saves - five in the third period alone - and picked up three ground balls in the tough 10-7 setback.
He picked up his first win at Mercer allowing just seven goals - one in the second half - with 10 saves in the game.
He is coming off a career game with 15 saves and eight ground balls against Siena as he remained undeafted in MAAC play on the seasom (5-0).
Shamblin made 28 saves at the Midwest Classic with 14 apiece against Bellarmine and No. 4/6 Ohio State and had nine against Marist in the MAAC opener and 11 at Monmouth, at Canisius and at Manhattan.
He ranks second in the league in save percentage (.543), third in goals against average (9.34), fourth in total saves (132) and fifth in saves per game (11.00).
Nationally, he is 14th in save percentage, 17 in saves per game and 23rd in goals against average.
In school history in a single season, he ranks second in GAA and fourth in save percentage.

BREAKING OFFENSIVE RECORDS

Detroit Mercy established a new school record for offense in its 18-8 victory over Manhattan.
The 31 points on the day and 13 assists were a pair of new school watermarks, while the 18 goals are the second most in Titan history and the most ever in MAAC play.
Junior Matthew Vangalen - who was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week - led the offense with a Titan record 11 points and tied another pair of school records with seven goals and four assists in the win.
Vangalen's 11 points broke the previous school record of Joel Matthews, who had eight at Canisius in 2012, while the seven goals are tied with Matthews' seven at Canisius and Shayne Adams' seven against Mercer in 2011. He also tied a school record and career record with four helpers.
His 11 points and seven goals are the most by any player in the MAAC this year and tied for the fifth most in the NCAA on the season. The seven goals were the most in the MAAC since 2016, while the 11 points are the most since Siena's Bryan Neufeld had 11 in two games in 2012.

VANTASTIC

Sophomore transfer Matthew Vangalen had a great start to his Titan career challenging the school record for points last year, and his 2018 is shaping up to be another banner year.
He leads the team with 39 points on a team-best 23 goals and 16 assists and is eighth in the MAAC in points per game (3.00) and assists per game (1.23) and ninth in goals per game (1.77).
Vangalen just picked up his second-straight MAAC Offensive Player of the Week award after tallying a game-high six points on four goals and two assists in the win over Siena.
He had a career day setting a school record with 11 points and tying a Titan record with seven goals and four assists at Manhattan and that was after notching a hat trick at Canisius.
In his last three games, he has 20 points on 14 goals and six assists.
Vangalen tallied a team-high five points on two goals and three assists at No. 6/6 Notre Dame and also caused a pair of turnovers. He notched a goal with three assists versus No. 4/6 Ohio State.
He was All-MAAC Second Team in 2017 after posting 47 points – third in school history – 26 goals – seventh in Titan history – and 21 assists – tied for second in record books.
He is sixth in school history with 37 assists and seventh with 86 points and 49 goals.

HAYES TOP 10 IN THE NATION IN CAUSED TURNOVERS

Senior captain and short stick midfielder Charlie Hayes - a Preseason All-MAAC Selection - has started the season playing like an All-American as he already has career highs with 28 caused turnovers, 64 ground balls - both team highs - to go with 11 points on six goals and five helpers.
He is already third in school history with 64 caused turnovers and sixth picking up 128 ground balls.
He leads the MAAC and is tied for seventh in the nation with 2.15 caused turnovers per game, while his 4.92 ground balls per game are tied for third in the league and 31st in the nation.
Hayes posted three ground balls, a caused turnover and a goal at No. 6/6 Notre Dame.
He had a goal and an assist at Mercer, four ground balls and four caused turnovers at Jacksonville and two caused turnovers with four GB's versus Marquette.
He was a menace to Bellarmine tallying a career-best six caused turnovers with seven ground balls and scooped up a career-high nine ground balls against Marist.
In his last three games, he has two caused turnovers and six ground balls against Siena, two caused turnovers, six GB's and an assist at Canisius and three caused turnovers with six ground balls and an assist at Manhattan.

PAT IN THE TOP 10

Senior LSM Pat Masterson had registered a caused turnover in all 13 games on the year and is third on the team and seventh in the MAAC with 1.15 caused turnovers on the season as well as second on the Titans with 41 ground balls.
He had five ground balls versus No. 4/6 Ohio State and a season-high six against Air Force, Quinnipiac and at Canisius.
At Canisius, he posted two caused turnovers with those six GB's and even scored his second collegiate goal in the game.
He is now top 10 in school history in both categories as he is seventh with 40 caused turnovers and ninth with 115 GB's.

ERSKINE SHINES

Brett Erskine continues to make a name for himself as one of the MAAC's top rookies.
He is coming off a season-high five points on two goals and season-best three assists in the win over Siena.
He has scored two goals in seven games this season, including four in MAAC play and in three-straight games.
At Mercer, he recorded his first collegiate points on two goals and an assist and all three came in dramatic fashion, earning him the MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week.
His assist came on the Titans' sixth goal in a comeback victory at Mercer, while his first goal tied the game at 7-7 with 19 seconds left.
Erskine's final marker was the game-winner in overtime.
He posted two goals in the MAAC opener against Marist and at Manhattan and two goals with an assist at Canisius.
Erskine is now second on the team with 27 points and is tied for second with 17 goals and 10 assists.
He has also attempted just 36 shots and 30 have been on goal for a .833 shots on goal percentage.

KAMISH CONNECTION

Freshman Brennan Kamish has had a strong start to his collegiate career scoring a goal in nine of the 13 games on the season and is fourth on the squad with 16 goals.
He is coming off a career-high three goals in the win over Siena.
Kamish tallied his first career marker at No. 6/6 Notre Dame. He also posted two at Mercer, against Bellarmine and No. 4/6 Ohio State, at Monmouth and at Manhattan.
At Monmouth, he tied the game at 8-8 with six seconds left and then won it in overtime just 46 seconds into the extra period.

MENDELL NOT A ROOKIE ANYMORE

Sophomore Seth Mendell is currently tied for second on the team with 17 goals and third with 24 points and eight assists as he is closing in on highs from a year ago.
He has scored at least two goals in five of the six MAAC games - including in four straight - posting three goals against Quinnipiac and two goals and a career-best three assists at Canisius in that time.
Last season, he named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team after tying for second on the team with 26 points and eight assists and tied for third scoring 18 goals. He led all MAAC freshmen in goals and was second in points
He recorded his first collegiate hat trick in a big way as he exploded for six goals versus Bellarmine, tied for first in the MAAC and the second most in school history, and it was also tied for the fourth most goals by anyone in Division I on the season.

LEAVE IT TO AKINS

Sophomore defender Alex Akins had a strong start to his second season posting a pair of caused turnovers and limiting Notre Dame attackers in the season opener.
He is tied for fifth on the squad with 11 caused turnovers, while picking up a career-best 21 ground balls.
Akins recorded a career-high three caused turnovers and seven ground balls at Mercer.
As a freshman, he earned All-MAAC Second Team and All-Rookie Team recognition after playing in all 16 games with 12 starts and was third on the team with 12 caused turnovers while picking up 15 ground balls.

HORTON WITH THE CAUSE

Junior Sam Horton is currently among the leaders in caused turnovers as he is eighth in the MAAC and 53rd in the nation with 1.23 caused turnover per game.
He started the year with a career-high three caused turnovers at No. 6/6 Notre Dame and at Mercer and also had two caused turnovers and two ground balls against Marist.
He recently just tied his career best with three caused turnovers versus Siena.

DON'T MESS WITH TEX

Senior Will Kane had two ground balls in the season opener at No. 6/6 Notre Dame and tied his career high with three caused turnovers at Jacksonville.
He is tied for fifth on the team with 11 caused turnovers and has 20 ground balls on the season, two away from a career high.
At Monmouth, he had two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
He played in all 16 games with 15 starts last season and was second on the team with a career-high 17 caused turnovers and sixth racking up a career-best 22 ground balls.
He has played in 49 career games and has tallied 35 caused turnovers - eighth in school history - and 63 ground balls.

ALEX THE GREAT

Sophomore Alex Jarzembowski has been outstanding at the faceoff position in MAAC play - both this year and his career.
On the season, he is 77-of-139 (55.4%) in the MAAC and 105-of-186 (56.4%) in conference play since the start of 2017.
He won 14-of-25 at Canisius with six ground balls. Against Quinnipiac and the preseason faceoff All-MAAC honoree Will Vitelli, he was 15-of-25 with four GB's.
Against Marist, he tied a school record winning 16-of-25 and was also 11-of-20 at Monmouth with five GB's and 11-of-19 at Manhattan with five more ground balls.
Overall on the year, he is fourth in the league winning 49.0 percent.
As a rookie, he saw action in 14 games and led the team in faceoff winning percentage at 57.4 percent (74-of-129), a new school record and second in the MAAC.

CANADIAN POWER

The Titans top two point scorers are both Canadian in junior Matthew Vangalen (39) and freshman Brett Erskine (27).
When you add in junior Patrick Walsh's 13 goals and 17 points, senior Lucas Ducharme's 10 goals and six assists, Pat Masterson's goal and assist and senior Marcus Butter' one marker, Canadians have accounted for 65 goals, 37 assists and 102 points.
As a team, the Titans have 132 goals, 80 assists and 212 points.

Print Friendly Version