DETROIT (2/5/2026) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team will begin its 18th year of varsity competition when the red, white and blue host Butler on Friday.

The game will be indoors at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac, Michigan. There will be no live broadcast, but live stats will be available. 

Kuehl arrived in the Motor City from nearby Lawrence Tech, where she was the head coach for the last two seasons, leading the team to a 26-8 record, two WHAC championships, two NAIA tournament appearances, and a national runner-up finish in 2024.

The Titans will have a young squad for the most part, with four seniors, a junior, four redshirt freshmen, a sophomore, and six true freshmen. 

"I am really excited about the opportunity that is in front of us," said first-year head coach Emma Kuehl. "We have a really strong presence with the upperclassmen and captains at practice, leading the charge and setting the standard. We also have the youth and the energy from the underclassmen, who are learning very quickly their roles and the expectations we have in this program."

The four seniors will also serve as team captains in Libby Cuckler, Angelina Hook, Alyssa Jarvis, and Jane Peck.

"It is huge to have the leadership of this upperclass. They have set the standard and tone culturally for us, which has been extremely beneficial with the growth of our younger players," said Kuehl.

Cuckler and Jarvis will look to lead the offense from the attack and midfield positions, respectively.

Cuckler - who was Second Team All-MAC last season - has played in 44 career games and has posted 73 points on 43 goals and 30 assists, just outside the top 10 in school history in helpers. Last year, she led the team with a career-high 47 points, tied for first with a career-best 30 goals, and was tied for second with a career-high 17 assists, while adding four caused turnovers and 12 ground balls.

Jarvis has played in 47 career games, tallying 68 points on 60 goals and eight assists. She is also huge on the draw, entering the year with 146 draw controls, tied for fifth in the record book, and collecting 57 ground balls. She was also Second Team All-MAC for the second straight season in 2025, tying for the team lead with a career-high 30 goals and fourth with a career-best 31 points, while pulling down a team-high 61 draws. 

"Libby definitely operates at the crease and is our quarterback from that perspective, while Alyssa is an uptop threat," said Kuehl. "For me, that's exciting because it allows us to have a change in the point of attack and helps keep the defense guessing."

Redshirt freshman Avary Sacdalan and freshmen Alison Smiley and Olivia Starr will help fill the attack line, while freshman Chloe Sheader and Lillie Peshek will be at the midfield. 

On defense, Hook and Peck will look to guide the young Titans. 

"Ang has done a great job at being the leader of that defensive unit," said Kuehl. "Both she and Jane have been great at communicating across the eight meters to the rest of the defense. With them, we have a great foundation of leadership to help get the newcomers going."

After playing just four games as a freshman, Hook saw action in 16 with 11 starts as a sophomore and then started all 15 games last season, finishing fourth on the team with a career-high 11 caused turnovers and fifth with a career-best 21 ground balls.

Peck played in only one game in 2025, but suited up for 12 the year before. 

Redshirt freshmen Ava Bandi and Lucy Annese, and true freshman Morgan Stamatakis will also be on the defensive side of the ball. 

In net, the Titans will have a battle as three goalies are vying for playing time in sophomore Kaitlynn Hedrick, redshirt freshman Emily Coyne, and rookie Abbi Bernhardt. 

Hedrick is the only one with some college time, as she played in two games off the bench as a rookie, posting a save at Arizona State and also playing at Youngstown State. Coyne did not see action but practiced all year last season, and Bernhardt had a stellar prep career. 

"There is a huge opportunity for the keepers this year," said Kuehl. "I am excited to see how they play. All three goalies bring different elements to the table, and they will battle for playing time, which will help us as a team as they push each other every day in practice."

The Titans will have a challenging schedule, with games against teams from the BIG EAST and the Big Ten, as well as six straight road games after the season opener against Butler. 

"We saw some great stuff in the fall, and I am really excited to get out on the field and show what we can do," added Kuehl.