Detroit 9, Monmouth 8

Wipe a little sweat off your brow, Titans. Monmouth is improved enough this year that a loss to them in its own would not classify as “disaster.” The implications for the rest of UDM’s season, on the other hand, would have been grim.

Tempo Free

From the official box score, a look at the tempo-free stats:

In a game where one possession either way could have changed the outcome, the Titans did what they had to do in order to get the win. They were slightly more efficient, controlled the rubber a bit more, and got the win.

Notes

How about those first three quarters, huh? I feel like UDM has been digging itself a hole pretty regularly throughout the course of the year. Fortunately, they’ve been able to climb all the way out a few times, but it’s advisable to be the better team for 60 minutes, rather than just the final 15 or 30. Over all games this year, they’re being outscored 60-49 in the first half, and are up 55-48 in second halves. In games with a final margin of fewer than five goals (excising big losses against Michigan and Marquette, and big wins against Mercer and Manhattan), it’s 38-25 in the first half, and up 39-29 in the second. That’s somethin’ needs fixin’.

Back to this game in specific, The Titans opened scoring, but let Monmouth notch seven of the next eight, taking us to the 10-minute mark of the third quarter. From there, it was all Titans, with seven of the final eight goals.

The offensive standouts for Detroit were the usual suspects: the attack duo of Shayne Adams and Mark Anstead, with two goals and an assist each. Their linemate Brandon Beauregard contributed the only other assist of the game (on nine goals), and five difference Titans had a single goal apiece, including FOGO Greg Marzec.

Speaking of Marzec, he was a big part of this win. The goal he scored came on a clean faceoff win six seconds after Monmouth scored to take their biggest lead of the game, and not only stopped momentum, but swung it the Titans’ way in major fashion. He also won 8/12 draws (Damien Hicks was also at 67% with 6/9), and although Hicks had a better GB rate on his wins, Marzec clearly played a factor as well, including his contributions on offense.

It was not the finest day for Jason Weber, especially considering the general mediocrity of the Monmouth offense. He saved eight and allowed eight goals, which isn’t bad per se, but given the expectations for an outstanding keeper like Weber (and the competition faced), you’d like to see a shinier number there.

For two middling offensive efficiencies, this was actually a statistically prolific game for the defenses. Monmouth caused 12 turnovers (and Detroit committed four more on their own) while the Titans caused 10 (and Monmouth added three of their own). UDM’s consistent issues with turning the ball over return, but weren’t enough to cost them the game. On the positive side, Jordan Yono caused three Monmouth turnovers.

Mike Birney played – but did not start, nor did he take a single shot – but Scott Drummond filled the niche of taking a ton of shots, with 10. Six of them were on cage, but only one made it through the keeper.

For Monmouth, the offensive output was a little more concentrated (though they also had a general lack of assists). Starting attack Bryce Wasserman had a goal and two assists, while Zach Johannes and Tyler King had a pair of goals each. Goalie Garrett Conaway had 15 saves and nine goals against.

Elsewhere

Boxscore. Detroit recap. Photo gallery. Monmouth recap. Postgame interviews with Marzec and coach Chris Kolon:

Up Next

Detroit heads on the road the Loudonville, N.Y. to face Siena. This isn’t your slightly older sibling’s Siena team, though. The longtime MAAC overlord is 5-6 on the year, 2-2 in the league with losses to Monmouth and Canisius. There’s a win there for the taking.

Should such a win happen, it puts Detroit in comfortable position for making the MAAC Championships (it would almost take some complex tiebreaker s to keep them out in that instance). Things aren’t over with a loss, but a win against Canisius the following week and some tiebreak mojo may be necessary.