DETROIT (11/13/2013) -- Fans will have plenty of opportunities to come out and see the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team defend its 2013 MAAC Championship as the Titans released their 2014 schedule, which features seven home games.
The seven home contests are tied for the most in school history with the seven the Titans had in 2010 as UDM begins its sixth season of lacrosse.
"This schedule will help us get ready for our ultimate goal in repeating as MAAC champions," said head coach Matt Holtz. "Everything in this schedule is designed with that goal in mind."
The season will kick off in the Great Lakes State as the Titans host Mercer on Sunday, Feb. 16, at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. Three days later, the epic rematch of the 2012 showdown that saw 1,800 fans pack the house will take place as Detroit squares off against Michigan at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Ticket information for those two games will be released in the near future.
UDM will then hit the road for two-straight games starting with a trip to Robert Morris on Feb. 23 and VMI on Mar. 1.
The Titans return home for a contest against Bellarmine on Mar. 4 before heading to New York to play at Wagner on Mar. 8. The non-conference schedule will conclude on Mar. 15 as Jesuit-rival Marquette visits Titan Field.
The MAAC slate will start with a ride down memory lane as the Titans play at Canisius at the Demske Sports Complex, the site of the red, white and blue's championship run last season. Due to some schedule conflicts, that game will either be on Saturday Mar. 22 or on Sunday, Mar. 23.
Three-straight conference games at home follows with one of the newest MAAC members Quinnipiac in town on Mar. 29 with Marist here on Apr. 5 and Siena on Apr. 12.
The schedule will end with two road games as UDM heads back to New York to battle Manhattan on Apr. 19 and another new member to the MAAC and NCAA lacrosse in Monmouth on Apr. 26.
The 2014 MAAC Championship will be held at Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., from May 2-4 with the top four teams in the standings vying for a trip to the NCAA Championship.
The Titans return 35 players from last year's championship roster, including their top nine goal and point scorers from a year ago. Senior Alex Maini and junior Mike Birney – who tied for the team lead with 40 points and were named All-MAAC Second Team – will be back as well as junior Shayne Adams, a Tewaaraton Award watch list member a year ago, who played in just four games before an injury ended his season.