DETROIT (10-17-26) - Junior
Johnny Strickler's team-best seventh goal of the season couldn't have been any sweeter as he netted the game-winning tally off a feed from junior
John Palomino, propelling Detroit Mercy to a 1-0 Senior Night victory over arch-rival Oakland for the first time since Nov. 3, 2010, which, ironically, was on Senior Night as well. This also marked the first Metro Series win over the Golden Grizzlies since its inception in 2014.
Graduate student
Quinn Tews was dynamite in the first half, making five saves, while junior
Colin Monroe kept OU (3-8-3, 2-1-5 HL) off he board in the second half to lock down the combined shutout.
Before the match, the team honored seven seniors,
Gio Covelli,
Zander Crooks,
Joey Iaquaniello,
Clayton Lafayette, co-captain
Spencer Powe,
Ryan Sanborn, and
Quinn Tews for their hard work and dedication to the program.
Detroit Mercy (3-8-3, 2-4-1 HL) wasted little time getting on the board just six minutes into the match. Palomino made a long run down the left side into the box and flicked over a cross to Strickler, who took a touch in space and roofed a nice shot into the top of the net while falling backwards, giving the Titans a 1-0 lead.
Tews and the back line held strong, taking the lead into halftime.
In the 70th minute of the second half, Lafayette almost gave the Titans an insurance goal as he broke in on a breakaway and fired a shot off the OU goalie at blank range. He got the rebound and sent in another shot that was saved by a defender right on the goal line.
Monore faced 15 total shots in the second half, but the back line continued to lock OU down, allowing none on frame en route to the historic win, sending the seniors out in style while handing the Golden Grizzlies their first loss in HL play.
Detroit Mercy travels to Northern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.
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