This is not a test. The Detroit Titans can all-but clinch a share of the conference title with a home win over Canisius this weekend. A road contest in 2 weeks (nice scheduling, guys) against Marist would seal the deal, but without this win, it’s all for naught.
Youth coaches, don’t forget that your team can get in for free if you planned ahead.
Canisius
Saturday 3PM, Titan Field
Record: 2-7 (2-1 MAAC)
Rankings: 54 (Computer).
Common Opponents: Jacksonville (L 8-12), @ VMI (W 13-9), Robert Morris (L 5-14).
Schedule
The Golden Griffins(!) played a pretty tough non-conference schedule, with looses to the likes of Bucknell, Harvard, and Cornell. They also fell to less-impressive squads in Binghamton, Hobart, and Robert Morris. The only games they kept remotely close were 2-goal defeats at the hands of Harvard and Hobart.
In-conference, Canisius has started out 2-1, mixed in with a host of teams (Siena and Manhattan are also 2-1, while Detroit leads the league at 3-1) at the top of the league.
Against common opposition, the Titans have performed better in all three games. Based on the available evidence, this should be a UDM win, especially on home turf.
Personnel
Canisius only has three players who have racked up double-digit point totals in junior Simon Giourmatakis (15 goals and 7 assists), senior attack Nick LoCoco (9 goals and 11 assists), and senior attack Greg Michael (11 goals and 7 assists). The midfielders aren’t very involved in the Griffin offense, as senior middie Brendan O’Hagan is 4th on the team in points with 9.
Defensively, 5th-year Dan Coates (St. Catherines, Ontario native like Shayne Adams and Jordan Houtby) leads the team in caused turnovers and ground balls, and LSM Ryan O’Hagan is the only other Griffin with double-digit turnovers forced. He’s also third on the team in ground balls – second among non-faceoff men.
Speaking of those faceoff men, junior Justin Maderer is the team’s top option, and he’s winning over 50% of his draws. 5th-year senior Graham Bergsma has taken about half as many faceoffs, but has one a pathetic .276 of them. Maderer will be the guy you see almost exclusively tomorrow, unless game situations dictate a change.
In goal, junior Sean Callahan has started every game but one, and is the team’s undisputed top option. He’s saving .470 of shots faced, and is allowing 11.21 goals per game. It will definitely be possible to put up some points.
Predictions
The Titans should get this win, and pretty easily so. Detroit probably has the best player at every position on the field (except faceoffs), and should be able to capitalize on that. I see a 15-8 Titan win in front of a big crowd.