DETROIT (2/26/2023) -- Sophomore Meredith Leavell put herself among the top 10 in school history with 17 saves, but the Titans just couldn't get ahead in the second half as the University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team was downed by Butler, 12-10, on Sunday afternoon at Titan Field.

At halftime, the Titans honored Annie Gilbert's mom as well as the mothers of Sophie Davis and Lena Kinczel in the Annual Pink Game to honor those who have beat or are in the fight against cancer

The 17 saves are tied for 10th in school history and the most since Lexie McCormick's 18 at Notre Dame in 2015. She also had a team-high five ground balls.

Senior Marina Butler, junior Cat Kopchia and sophomore Leah Bodnar each had two goals, while redshirt freshman Taylor Rocha registered a goal and two assists. Junior Sarah Meek and sophomore Maddy Camm each shared team-high with three draw controls and added an assist, while Camm also had two caused turnovers.

The Titans (1-2) got off to a quick 3-0 lead not even three minutes in as Camm found freshman Alyssa Jarvis for a goal with 14:16 on the clock. Just 20 seconds later, after Jarvis got the draw control, Rocha fed Bodnar for a score. After a Butler turnover, the Titans would take advantage as Kopchia beat the keeper for a 3-0 lead with 12:43 left.

Despite three saves from Leavell and a couple of caused turnovers, the Bulldogs ended the period with four-straight markers for a 4-3 lead.

In the second, junior Cecelia Vergara was able to get a turnover and that led to a free-position goal from Rocha for a 4-4 game. The Titans would also knot it at 5-5 midway through the second as Rocha was the initiator again, finding Bodnar for the strike. Leavell made three more stops in the period, but Butler led 8-5 at the break.

The teams traded goals to start the third as Butler's marker made it 8-6 with 10:04 remaining and then the Titans got within one, 9-8, as senior Annie Gilbert found the back of the net off a pass from Meek and after a save from Leavell, Butler unleashed a shot past the goalie and it was 9-8 with five minutes to go. 

The Titans also trailed by one again at 10-9 in the fourth as Kopchia ticked the twine with 13:36 on the clock, but the Bulldogs responded with two-straight scores. Detroit Mercy made one final comeback attempt as redshirt junior Charlotte Dale notched her first of the season with just two minutes left.

Graduate senior Jess Turner tied her career-high with four ground balls. Meek ended with three draw controls and senior Heather Keery had two caused turnovers and a ground ball.

The red, white and blue will be back in action next Sunday, March 5, as they head to Milwaukee to battle Jesuit-rival Marquette. 

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy is now 3-3 all-time against the Bulldogs and 2-0 at home
• Turner also had four ground balls at Kent State in 2021
• The two goals were a career-high for Bodnar

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