COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (3/6/2019) -- Junior Seth Mendell scored a season-high four goals, but a quick start by Air Force spelled doom for the Titans as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team fell 19-9 to the Falcons in the mountains of Colorado on Wednesday.

Mendell finished with four goals and two assists for to tie a career best with six points and recorded his fifth career hat trick.

Senior Matthew Vangalen handed out three assists and had a goal, while sophomore Brett Erskine and freshman Cam Kostus tallied a goal and an assist.

Sophomore Logan Shamblin made 10 saves, junior Alex Akins had two caused turnovers and a ground ball and sophomore Sam McClain had a caused turnover and three GB's.

Playing in the high altitude of Falcon Stadium, Air Force (4-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first nine minutes and led 7-2 after the first quarter and 10-2 early in the second.

Detroit Mercy (3-2) started fighting back and got to within six, 11-5, with just under a minute to go in the first half on a goal by Mendell.

The Titans could not get any closer in the second half.

Sophomore Paul Manuszak picked up four ground balls and junior Alex Jarzembowski won 13 faceoffs and recorded three ground balls.

The Titans saw the Falcons commit 22 turnovers and were 3-of-7 with the man-up.

The red, white and blue will now get ready for conference play as Detroit Mercy will open up the MAAC at newcomer St. Bonaventure on Saturday. 

First Quarter:

• Air Force scored its first goal at 11:45 and led 4-0 at the 5:15 mark despite five saves by Shamblin
• Detroit Mercy used the extra-man to get on the board as Kostus found Mendell for a score at 3:32 and then Vangalen located Kostus for a strike just a minute later. 

Second Quarter:

• The Titans were down 10-2 when Vangalen fed Mendell for a goal with 9:07 left
• Mendell then did it himself to score and get the team within 10-4 with 3:52 remaining
• Mendell then beat the keeper again with 46 seconds on the clock as the Titans went into the break down, 11-5

Third Quarter:

• Vangalen had his extra-man goal at 2:36 and a little more than a minute later, sophomore Matt Blevins took a pass from Vangalen and fired one into the net

Fourth Quarter:

• The Titans tallied two goals late in the period as Mendell assisted on both to Erskine at 1:29 and to junior Connor Bennardo at 54 seconds.

Game Notes:

• Air Force has won all six meetings in the series
• The Titans are now 16-19 all-time against current teams from the Southern Conference
• Vangalen now has 52 career assists, second in school history and only 12 away from the school record of 64 by Alex Maini
• Vangalen now has eight career man-up goals for sole possession of seventh in school history
• Mendell's career high in goals was six against Bellarmine in 2017 and Siena last year
• Shamblin has made double-digit saves in 14 career games
• Jarzembowski now has 321 career faceoff wins, 13 behind the school record of 334 by Brandon Davenport