DETROIT (12/14/2016) -- Two Titans who helped the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team capture a MAAC Championship and set a school record for wins will now have an opportunity to continue their careers professionally as
Mike Birney and
Paul Bitetti were both chosen in Major League Lacrosse's Supplemental Draft on Wednesday.
Birney was selected in the 11th round, 98th overall, by the Ohio Machine, while Bitetti was tabbed in the 13th round, 109th overall, by the Atlanta Blaze.
They are now the fourth and fifth players, respectively, to be drafted professionally joining
Shayne Adams (second round, 21st overall, in 2015 by NLL's Vancouver Stealth),
Joel Matthews (fourth round, 31st overall, in 2012 by the NLL's Buffalo Bandits) and
Jordan Houtby (fourth round, 29th overall, in 2013 by the NLL's Minnesota Swarm).
Birney provided one of the biggest highlights in Detroit Mercy history with his overtime goal to win the MAAC Championship in 2013. He was selected Second Team All-MAAC as a sophomore, junior and senior. In 2014, he was tied for second on the team with 18 goals and six were with the man-up, helping the Titan extra-man attack set a NCAA record in man-up offense efficiency (.586).
As a sophomore in 2013, he was the MAAC's Most Outstanding Player in the conference championship after scoring eight goals in the event, including the game winners against Marist and Siena. He finished his career third in school history with 16 man-up goals, fourth in total goals (63) and hat tricks (8), fifth in points (89), and tied for seventh in assists (26).
Bitetti was one of the best defensemen in the MAAC during his four years and was selected All-MAAC First Team three times. He led the team with 17 caused turnovers and was fourth in the MAAC posting 1.42 caused turnovers per game as a senior in 2016. As a sophomore in 2014, he topped the squad with a career-high 24 caused turnovers and ended the season 12th in Division I and leading the MAAC with 1.85 caused turnovers per game.
A two-time team captain, he ended his career appearing in 52 games and tallying 55 ground balls and 59 caused turnovers, fourth in school history.
The duo helped the Titans reach the NCAA Tournament in 2013 after winning the MAAC as a four seed and upsetting top-seeded Marist in the semifinals and perennial MAAC powerhouse Siena in the title game. The pair was also a part of the program that defeated Ohio State in 2015 en route to a school-record eight victories.
Both players also earned the Academic Excellence Award, given to Titan student-athletes who achieved academic excellence during their time at Detroit Mercy recording at least a 3.0 GPA for every semester that they participated in college athletics. They were also four-time members of the MAAC Academic Honor Roll and the MAAC All-Academic Team.
