Battle For Michigan Highlights Men’s Lacrosse Schedule


DETROIT — Three games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago and a home game against the Michigan Wolverines are on the docket as the Titan men’s lacrosse schedule was announced today.

Overall, Detroit will have five home games, including visits from MAAC Champion Siena in a rematch from last year’s conference tournament championship, and Marist – who the Titans defeated in the semifinals.

“This year’s schedule is one of the most aggressive we have had,” said head coach Matt Holtz. “The non-conference schedule will definitely prepare us for our ultimate goal, which is a MAAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.”

The first home game of the year however will see the Titans host the University of Michigan in the first Division I game in the history of the U-M program. The contest is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1:00 p.m., at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac – the same facility where the Titans train and have hosted their past two home openers. In 2010 against Bellarmine, 1,565 fans were in attendance and UDM is looking to exceed that mark.

Tickets for that game will be available for purchase beginning on January 3. Fans will be able to call and sign up for a ticket waitlist by calling the Ticket Office at (313) 993-1700. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. More information on tickets for the Titan-Wolverine affair will be released in the near future.

“It is going to be an exciting game for all lacrosse fans, especially here in the state of Michigan,” added Holtz.

Detroit opens its season the same way it did last year with a trip to Delaware on Feb. 4. The Blue Hens were 11-7 last year, winning the Colonial Athletic Association for the second consecutive season and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

UDM will then head to Columbus, Ohio, for the fourth-straight year to battle the Buckeyes in a midweek contest on Thursday, Feb. 9. The game will be played indoors at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex as Detroit looks for its’ first-ever win over OSU after dropping a heartbreaking 4-3 decision in 2010.

The home slate gets underway indoors against Michigan before the red, white and blue begin a five-game road swing with trips to perennial NCAA powerhouse North Carolina (Feb. 18), second-year Division I member Mercer (Feb. 25), Georgetown (Mar. 3) out of the BIG EAST and Quinnipiac (Mar. 10) from the Northeast Conference. The road trek ends with the MAAC opener at Canisius on Mar. 17.

The Titans will then play four of the next five on campus at Titan Field with Marist coming to the Motor City on Mar. 24, defending MAAC champion Siena on Apr. 7, Jacksonville the following week and the last non-conference game and home contest of the year versus Bellarmine on Senior Day, Apr. 21.

Filling out the Titans’ schedule are two MAAC match-ups at Manhattan on Mar. 31 and the regular season finale at VMI on Apr. 28.

The MAAC Tournament will again feature the top four teams in the standings fighting for the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The event will be held at Marist in Poughkeepsie, NY, with the semifinals on May 4 and the championship game on May 6.

The Titans return a bevy of letterwinners from last year’s team that went 6-10 overall and 4-2 in the MAAC, tying for second place. Both losses in league play were on the road by a combined three goals. UDM then defeated Marist in the conference tournament semifinals to advance to the title game against Siena.

Detroit also returns 91% of its goal scorers. Along with the MAAC Newcomer of the Year and first team selection Shayne Adams (35G, 6A, 41P), UDM will have senior Scott Harris (19G, 20A, 39P), sophomore Alex Maini (19G, 8A, 27P) and senior Tim Lehto (12G, 5A, 17P) back in the offensive fold as well as 2010 second team All-MAAC performer in sophomore Joel Matthews (37G, 11A, 48P in 2010).

The defense is led by junior Jordan Houtby, the reigning MAAC LSM of the Year who was second in the country in caused turnovers (3.25) and 11th in ground balls at 6.06 per game. Junior Jamie Hebden, a second-team All-MAC selection a year ago, is back on defense along with senior co-captain Jason McDonald and starting goalkeeper and second-team All-Conference honoree junior A.J. Levell.

Tickets for all Titan lacrosse home games at Titan Field can be purchased through the Detroit Titan Ticket Office. Call (313) 993-1700 or stop by the box office in Calihan Hall to purchase tickets. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

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