DETROIT (9/25/2013) -- Four upperclassmen were the choice amongst players and coaches as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse team announced their team captains for the 2014 season.
Earning the distinguished honor for the upcoming season were seniors Alex Maini (Lynbrook, N.Y. / Lynbrook) and Tom Masterson (London, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas) and juniors Thomas Sible (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Central) and Chris Shevins (Merrick, N.Y. / Mepham).
"The leadership of this team is going to be critical," said head coach Matt Holtz. "After consulting with the players and coaches, I feel we have selected a great core of leaders to help us achieve our ultimate goal of repeating as MAAC champions."
Maini has been a mainstay at attack since he arrived in the Motor City, playing in all 46 games and helping the Titans win the 2013 MAAC Championship, while reaching the title game in 2011. He was Second Team All-MAAC at attack last year tying for first on the team with a career-high 40 points, while leading the Titans with 15 assists and finishing second with a career-best 25 goals. He is currently UDM's all-time leading point scorer with 102 and enters his senior year ranked second all-time in goals at 64.
Masterson was also a valuable part of the Titan championship run last season and the trip to the 2011 MAAC finals. He ended his junior year with 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists – all career highs – ranking fourth on the squad in points and goals and tied for second in assists. He was at his best during the postseason with a season-high four ground balls and a goal in the semifinals win over top-seeded Marist, and then tied his career high with three assists and four points, while adding three GB's, in the victory over Siena for the conference crown. He also scored a goal against #2 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.
After redshirting his freshmen year due to a knee injury, Sible has come back to play a great defensive midfield for the Titans and his resilience for overcoming injuries is what made him a great candidate for the captain position. He has torn his ACL three times between high school and college and also dealt with a shoulder injury as a redshirt freshman. He has played in 27 games in the last two years and has accumulated seven points on two goals and five assists, including a goal in the MAAC Championship game and an assist in the NCAA Tournament.
Shevins will take over the leadership role on defense as one of the upperclassmen coming back to that unit. He has played in 27 games in his first two years and started to really hit his stride last year, helping Detroit make that run to the postseason. He played in all 15 games as a sophomore and finished with five caused turnovers and 12 ground balls.
Detroit is still working hard during its fall training period and will have a few scrimmages coming up as the Titans play at Ohio State on Oct. 4 and against Seton Hill and Mercyhurst in the 2013 Breast Cancer Research Lacrosse Showcase To Benefit The Stefanie Spielman Fund on Oct. 13 in Chesterland, Ohio.
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