Men's Lacrosse 01.29.26 By Harrison Albano

Titans Ready to Make Noise in 2026

Men's Lacrosse 01.29.26 By Harrison Albano

Titans Ready to Make Noise in 2026

DETROIT (1/29/2026) - As the 2026 men's lacrosse season approaches, the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team appears ready to make another deep run in the Northeast Conference. With a full offseason of growth behind them, the once-young but talented Titans have continued to mature under the guidance and leadership of head coach Charlie Hayes '18, now entering his second year at the helm.

"When we got together as a team for the first time this year, we talked about our goal, and it's to have a winning season and finish with a conference championship," said Hayes.

Establishing New Norms
Hayes continues to build a strong foundation for the program, rooted in discipline, a team-first mentality, and Detroit grit.

"We want to be tough, hardworking, and disciplined, but we also talk about being respected as well," said Hayes. "Win or lose, we want to step off the field knowing that every team we play respects us."

Now, further removed from the head-coaching transition following the departure of long-time Titan coach Chris Kolon, the still-young but increasingly experienced Titans enter the 2026 season with greater familiarity in their systems and a clear, shared understanding of expectations for the upcoming season.

Building Off Of Last Year's Success
Last year marked the Titans' first year competing in the NEC, and they made an immediate impact. After a strong finish to regular-season play, Detroit Mercy solidified their spot in the NEC playoffs by delivering a statement victory, upsetting top-seeded Le Moyne on the road. The Titans' postseason run ultimately ended in the conference championship game, falling short to long-time rival Robert Morris. Still, the momentum gained from that run fuels their push into the 2026 season as they look to carry that success - and Detroit swagger - into the 2026 campaign.

"We gained a lot of momentum at the end of last year, winning six out of our last seven games, and are looking to carry it into the start of this year," said coach Hayes

Veteran Presence
Entering the new season, the Titans return several key players and starters, including redshirt sophomore Marcus Thundercloud at attack. Thundercloud averaged 2.20 goals per game last year, which was 57th in all of Division I. He was named Second Team All-NEC as well as the NEC rookie of the year, becoming the first Titan freshman to earn a Rookie of the Year accolade since 2015.

Sophomore Andrew Parker, a true do-it-all player, also returns for the Titans after being thrown into key roles last as a rookie. Parker earned a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team and the NEC All-Tournament team after he appeared in 12 games, with six starts, and finished fourth on the team with 22 points and 14 goals and third with eight assists.

While offense may win games, many believe defense wins championships - and for the Titans, that defense is led by battle-tested senior captain Kyle Grant. Grant anchors a tough, physical Detroit Mercy unit and enters the season as one of the program's most accomplished defenders. He was named First Team All-NEC and earned a spot on the NEC All-Tournament Team after leading the conference and ranking fifth nationally with 2.00 caused turnovers per game. Following a standout season, Grant is eager to build on that momentum and believes fans have plenty to look forward to.

"This team plays hard, fast, and with a lot of grit," Grant said. "We have a strong mix of experienced leaders and hungry young players ready to prove themselves. Every game, we will be competitive, and we are committed to playing a brand of lacrosse our fans can be proud of."

The Titans also return graduate senior Sean Henige, who brings valuable experience, having played in nearly every game over the past two seasons. This defensive unit proved to be a strength last season, holding opponents to fewer than ten goals in five games, and will once again be a cornerstone of Detroit Mercy's success in 2026.

Detroit Mercy has enjoyed a long tradition of elite goaltending, and following the graduation of two-year starter Ryan Richters, a highly competitive offseason position battle began in the fall between redshirt junior Cooper St. Clair and redshirt sophomore Christian Tucker. Both saw limited game action last season but impressed coaches in practice and with their hard work and preparation, showing the same level of poise and ability that have defined past Titan goaltenders.

The Challenge Ahead
After the success the Titans achieved last season, the challenge now becomes repeating it in 2026 - and it will be tested immediately. Detroit Mercy opens the year thrown straight into the fire, beginning with back-to-back road match-ups against two Big 10 opponents traveling down to Ohio State, followed by a trip to in-state rival Michigan. Following their Big Ten stretch, the Titans will head to Hampton, a team they beat 11-5 last season, before returning to the Great Lakes State home games against Bellarmine and Jesuit-rival Marquette.

The non-conference schedule then concludes with a trip to the Sunshine State to face Jacksonville before starting NEC play.

First Test
The Titans will start the 2026 season on the road Sunday, Feb. 1, traveling to nationally ranked Ohio State. OSU leads the all-time series, 13-1, including a 12-0 mark at home, as the red, white and blue fell 14-4 to the Buckeyes last year.

The lone win for the Titans was 9-8 in 2015 at home, which was the first collegiate game for current head coach Charlie Hayes and he tallied a caused turnover in the contest. OSU was also the Titans' first-ever game in 2009, as Scott Harris netted the first goal in school history.

The 14 meetings are tied for the second-most against any team in school history, trailing only Bellarmine (16), and are the most against any school that has never been a conference foe.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Kyle Grant: D; 6' 5"; Junior

#44 Sean Henige: D; 6' 3"; Senior

#7 Ryan Richters: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#6 Cooper St. Clair: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#13 Marcus Thundercloud: A/MF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#17 Christian Tucker: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#81 Andrew Parker: MF; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#4 Kyle Grant
: 6' 5"; Junior
: D

#44 Sean Henige
: 6' 3"; Senior
: D

#7 Ryan Richters
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#6 Cooper St. Clair
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Marcus Thundercloud
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: A/MF

#17 Christian Tucker
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#81 Andrew Parker
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MF