MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (2/23/2022) -- Junior Marina Butler had two goals and two assists to lead the Titan offense, but a slow start was too much to overcome as the University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team dropped a 17-9 decision on the road at Robert Morris on Wednesday.

It was the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. 

Butler also had a career-high three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior Elise Harder posted two goals with an assist along with a team-high four ground balls. Sophomore Cat Kopchia netted two goals and freshman Maddy Camm registered her first career marker on her first-ever shot. 

The Titans (0-2, 0-1 MAC) fell behind early as Robert Morris (1-2, 1-0 MAC) took a 3-0 lead before senior Taylor Cantelon got the offense going by winning a draw and going through the Colonials' defense for a score with 4:53 remaining. 

Detroit Mercy later trailed 8-1 before a Kopchia strike at 12:17 in the second, and then ended the first half on a 3-0 run with goals from Harder, senior Annie Gilbert and Harder again to make it 11-5 at the break.

The Titans got within six twice in the third as Kopchia scored to make it 12-6 at the 13:42 mark and Butler scored for a 13-7 contest with 10:10 on the clock. 

Butler added her second goals in the fourth and Camm tallied her first collegiate strike with 3:29 left. 

Junior Hannah Shrader made five saves in net, while graduate senior Maddie Johnson had four and freshman Meredith Leavell made her collegiate debut and recorded one stop. 

The Titans were just edged in ground balls (19-18) and draw controls (16-14) and were 19-of-25 in clears and 3-of-7 in free position shots.

Detroit Mercy will be back in action on Friday as the red, white and blue host Marquette indoors at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac, Michigan, with the first draw set for 1:00 p.m.