From University release:
DETROIT (11/18/2015) — Air Force, Notre Dame, Marquette, Michigan and Ohio State are all on the docket as the University of Detroit Mercy men’s lacrosse team released its 2016 schedule on Wednesday.
The daunting non-conference slate features seven opponents that posted a combined 56-46 record (.543) a season ago with a pair of NCAA Tournament teams, including Final Four member Notre Dame.
“It is a pretty ambitious schedule, but one that I feel will get us ready for the conference,” said second-year head coach Chris Kolon ’09 (MBA). “We are playing some great teams, nationally-ranked teams, and our home schedule is as good as we have ever had.”
Detroit’s 2016 season will get underway in Columbus, Ohio, with the Titans facing Ohio State on Feb. 13. Last year, the Titans defeated Ohio State, 9-8, at home at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in front of over 1,300 fans.
A week later, UDM visits Mercer before returning home to host Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. The two previous home games against the Wolverines have drawn over 3,700 total fans, with 1,909 in 2014 and 1,800 in 2012.
Three days later, the red, white and blue travel to South Bend, Indiana, to battle Notre Dame, a program that will most likely be ranked in the top 10 after reaching the NCAA Final Four last season. This is just the second career meeting between the programs with the first coming in the First Round of the NCAA Championship in 2013 as Detroit nearly upset the Fighting Irish, falling 9-7.
A couple of other Catholic schools are up next as UDM plays Marquette (Mar. 4) and Bellarmine (Mar. 6) in Columbus, Ohio, in the Second Annual Midwest Classic. The Golden Eagles were 10-6 last season and ranked for much of the year, while the Titans defeated Bellarmine – on the road – for the school’s first-ever victory over the Knights.
“The Midwest Classic is another great experience for our players as we will get a chance to play two games inside the horseshoe,” added Kolon.
Detroit will then get into conference play with a road game at Manhattan on March 19.
The Titans last non-conference game will prove to be a historic one as the red, white and blue welcome Air Force to Titan Field. The visit from the service academy will mark the first time Army, Navy or Air Force will play on campus at Detroit since the men’s basketball team hosted Army in the 1958 Motor City Classic. Last year, the Falcons were 8-7 and that was after making the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
“It is an honor to welcome a service academy to Titan Field,” said Kolon. “It should be a great game for our fans.”
The contest will also start a three-game homestand on campus with UDM matching up with Siena (Apr. 2) and Quinnipiac (Apr. 9). A trip to Monmouth (Apr. 16) and Canisius (Apr. 23) follow before the regular-season finale against defending MAAC champion Marist on Apr. 30 at Titan Field.
The MAAC Championship is set for May 5-7 and will once again be held at the highest-seeded full conference member with the proper facilities.
That is:
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13 | Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Feb. 20 | Mercer | Macon, Ga. |
| Feb. 24 | Michigan | Ultimate Soccer |
| Feb. 27 | Notre Dame | South Bend, Ind. |
| March 4 | Marquette | Columbus, Ohio |
| March 6 | Bellarmine | Columbus, Ohio |
| March 19 | Manhattan | Riverdale, N.Y, |
| March 26 | Air Force | Titan Field |
| April 2 | Siena | Titan Field |
| April 9 | Quinnipiac | Titan Field |
| April 16 | Monmouth | West Long Branch, N.J. |
| April 23 | Canisius | Buffalo, N.Y. |
| April 30 | Marist | Titan Field |
Interactive Whiteboards by PolyVision