DETROIT (2/10/2017) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team will begin varsity season number nine the way it began its first-ever campaign in 2009, at RV/No. 17 Ohio State as the Titans will meet the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Feb. 11.
 
Game time is set for Noon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex.
 
It will be the third-straight year and the fifth time the red, white and blue will meet Ohio State in a season opener, with the Buckeyes leading the all-time series, 6-1.  Detroit Mercy's lone win was in 2015, 9-8, in OSU's only road game of the series.
 
The Titans will also look for their first-ever win over a ranked program, coming into the match-up 0-12 all-time against nationally ranked opponents, with 11 of those 12 games outside of the Motor City.
 
There game will feature live stats as well as live video, provided with a fee.

Tickets for the indoor games against Michigan (Feb. 15) and Jacksonville (Feb. 23) start at $10 each, which will be played at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. 
 
The Titans also have a special February indoor ticket deal featuring both indoor games as you can buy tickets to both for just $15, or puechase two tickets and a vintage Titan t-shirt for $20 by clicking here. 
 
Tickets are available for purchase online as well as on gamedays. For more information, contact Director of Ticket Operations & Sales Justin Hairston at 313-993-1700 ext. 7301 or at hairstjj1@udmercy.edu.
 
SEASON PREVIEW
The University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team will bring back a number of players both offensively and defensively as the Titans look to start a new postseason streak in 2017 under third-year head coach Chris Kolon '09 (MBA). 
 
The Titans ended last year at 2-10 overall and 2-4 in the MAAC, missing the MAAC Championship for the first time in five years. In that five-year run, the Titans won a MAAC title in 2012 and were runner-up in 2011.
 
Detroit Mercy was picked to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, but the red, white and blue will look to prove that ranking wrong.
 
GOAL
Back to lead the team is senior goalie Jason Weber – an Honorable Mention Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse – who played for Team Canada in the fall.
 
He is a two-time All-MAAC selection was named Preseason All-Conference as well as an Honorable Mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse.
 
He posted 132 total saves, a .541 save percentage and a 9.84 goals against average last season, ranking 18th in the country in save percentage and saves per game (11.0). He also led the team with 36 ground balls and posted five caused turnovers.
 
In his career, Weber has 513 career saves, a .592 save percentage and a 9.77 goals against average. He is the school record holder in save percentage, saves per game (13.86) and GAA, and is just 96 shy of the school mark for total saves.
 
DEFENSE
The defense will miss two starters who graduated in Paul Bitetti and Jordan Yono, who played in a total of 104 games in their careers. Junior Will Kane is back to anchor the defense as he started all 12 games last season. Junior Bryan Matney and sophomore Sam Horton are back as experienced defensemen and the team will have a number of newcomers and red-shirts vying for playing time.
 
A pair of highly-experienced LSM's and defensive midfielders are back in juniors Pat Masterson and Austin Polson-McCannon at the LSM, while junior Charlie Hayes and sophomore Bo Pickens are the short stick defenders. Masterson had 26 ground balls and seven caused turnovers last season while Polson-McCannon tallied 19 GB's and 10 caused turnovers. Hayes accounted for 14 ground balls and eight caused turnovers and Pickens was named to the MAAC All-Newcomer Team.
 
OFFENSE
On offense, the Titans will need to replace graduated senior Andy Hebden, who topped the team with 19 goals in 2016. Junior Mark Anstead is the team's leading returning scorer with 27 points last season on 12 goals and a team-high 15 assists. Junior Alec Gilhooly posted 12 goals and 18 points last season and senior Kyle Beauregard registered eight goals and 10 points.
 
The unit will also rely on contributions from sophomore transfer Matthew Vangalen, who spent last year with Furman notching nine points on five goals and four assists in limited playing time, and a number of talented freshmen.
 
From the midfield, junior Sean Birney returns after notching seven goals and seven assists as does junior Lucas Ducharme (5g, 2a) and sophomore Patrick Walsh (2g, 2a).
 
FACEOFF
Detroit Mercy brings back the number one faceoff midfielder in the MAAC in senior Ben Gjokaj, who led the league and was 24th in the nation in faceoff winning percentage with a career-high and school record 56.6 percent (74-of-133), which included an astounding 68-of-108 (62.9%) mark in MAAC play.
 
SCHEDULE
The Titans will one again play a tough schedule with non-conference road games against preseason ranked teams in Air Force, Marquette and Ohio State. Local rival Michigan is also on the schedule as are Midwest foes Bellarmine and Robert Morris.