COLUMBUS, Ohio (3/4/2016) -- Sophomore
Mark Anstead hit the post on a scoring chance with seconds remaining Friday as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team was edged, 7-6, in the opener of the Midwest Classic, held at Ohio State.
Detroit (0-4) trailed 7-4 entering the final period, but rallied, scoring both goals in the fourth. Sophomore
Lucas Ducharme started the comeback attempt netted a goal off a feed from sophomore
Sean Birney with 13:16 left to go. Anstead then notched his second of the game and fourth of the year with 47 seconds left to pull the Titans within one, 7-6.
Senior
Paul Bitetti forced a Bellarmine (2-3) turnover with 23 seconds left and scooped up the ground ball setting up the Titans last scoring chance. Detroit called a timeout with 12 seconds left and when play resumed, the game-tying opportunity was there for Anstead, but his shot hit the post with just seven seconds remaining and Detroit was unable to get another scoring chance on net as the game ended.
Junior
Jason Weber finished with 10 saves in the game for Detroit. Anstead had a three-point effort with two goals and one assist, while Birney and sophomore
Alec Gilhooly each finished with a goal and an assist.
Senior
Andy Hebden and Ducharme scored the other goals for the Titans (0-4). Sophomores
Charlie Hayes and
Austin Polson-McCannon had two caused turnovers apiece and Weber picked up a team-high six ground balls.
Detroit and Bellarmine were nearly even in shots as the Knights finished with a 28-27 edge. Detroit had the advantage in ground balls (30-20) and went 20-for-24 on clears. Both teams had 19 turnovers and seven caused turnovers, while Bellarmine won the faceoff battle, 9-6.
The Titans will return to action on Sunday in the second day of play at the Midwest Classic as they take on Jesuit-rival Marquette at Noon at Ohio Stadium.
