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FROM THE EDITOR


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Remember the Titans A


Detroit Mercy’s near-upset of Irish was best game of 2013


round this time of year, Lacrosse Magazine ramps up its annual


“Best of Lacrosse” awards. at LaxMagazine.com/ BestOfLacrosse2013. My pick for the best game of 2013? Detroit Mercy’s near-upset of Notre Dame in the NCAA men’s tournament. I’m only one vote, but that gets the nod over trendier contenders, like Casey Powell’s comeback game with the Bayhawks, the epic NCAA Division I women’s final, Duke’s heart-stopping wins over the Loyola and Cornell men, and Canada-Australia in the FIL Women’s World Cup. How could you not be enamored with Detroit Mercy, a team that was 2-9 with two weeks left in the season and rallied to win its conference championship to make the dance at 5-9? How could you not root for a team from a city with so little to cheer about since the economic collapse of 2008? How could you not


PUBLICATION


Managing Director of Communications Bill Rubacky Director of Communications Brian Logue Editor Matt DaSilva ( @mdasilva15) Assistant Editors Clare Lochary (


,


Corey McLaughlin ( Art Director Gabriella Ferraro O’Brien Graphic Design Manager Heather Hughes


Staff Writers TJ Buchanan, Lucia Clark, Jac Coyne, Lane Errington, Emily Gibson, Paul Krome, Charlie Obermayer, Paul Ohanian, Bill Tanton


Advertising Sales Manager Rebekah Sweeney Chief Photographer Kevin P. Tucker Staff Photographer John Strohsacker LaxMagazine.com Editor Sean Burns ( LaxMagazine.com Asst. Editor Jac Coyne (


>>


watch with bated breath as the Titans had the mighty Irish on the ropes in South Bend?


No MAAC representative had ever won an NCAA tournament game. Nor had a sub-.500 team. But there was Detroit


Mercy, a devil-may-care collection of players from Canada and the Midwest, imposing its will on Notre Dame, a final four favorite. For three quarters, the Irish had no answer for the Titans’ rangy defensemen — namely Jordan Houtby, the Canadian national team


6 LACROSSE MAGAZINE November 2013


hopeful who set an NCAA record with 158 career caused turnovers. For three quarters, Detroit Mercy reduced Notre Dame’s vaunted defense to ball-watchers and bystanders, as they expertly milked possessions and capitalized in timer-on situations.


For three quarters, the Irish looked lost on faceoffs, making Damien Hicks look like Alex Smith.


Like the rejuvenated


Coaches Matt Holz and Laura Maness have embraced Detroit’s rugged reputation by challenging players to do the same.


Detroit Mercy was on the brink of the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history. And then Irish coach Kevin Corrigan did his best Mickey Goldmill impression. You remember the Mick, don’t you? He was Rocky Balboa’s trainer, played by the late Burgess Meredith, in the “Rocky” films. In “Rocky II,” Mickey trains Rocky to fight right-handed, even though he’s a lefty. Rocky takes Apollo Creed to the 15th round, at which point Mickey gives Rocky the green light to switch back to southpaw, turning the tide of the fight.


Rocky, the Irish came out swinging. They rode like their lives depended on it, forced six Detroit Mercy turnovers, won six of seven faceoffs, scored four goals in the first five minutes to tie the game at 7 and eventually won 9-7. The “Rocky” analogy works, until you realize that in this game, Notre Dame was Apollo. That the Irish had to resort to such gimmickry says a lot about the resolve of the Titans — which inspired us to make Detroit Mercy the centerpiece of this special fitness edition of Lacrosse Magazine.


Coaches Matt Holz and Laura Maness have embraced Detroit’s rugged reputation by challenging players to do the same. Holz’s men commence the fall with a “Run to the Fist,” an 8.7 mile team-toughening jaunt through downtown landmarks ending at the Monument to Joe Louis. Maness’ women started a new rite this year, the “SUV Push and Run,” where players take turns in twos willing an occupied vehicle around an empty, dimly lit parking lot. Gym rats Troy Dennis and Kylie Birney take Detroit’s blue-collar mentality to a new level.


Check it all out starting on page 40. With the 2014 season in sight, it’s time to train like Titans. LM


In his back pocket, Corrigan had Notre Dame’s seldom-used 10-man ride. And he showed remarkable restraint, waiting until the start of the fourth quarter to unleash it.


— Matt DaSilva mdasilva@uslacrosse.org A Publication of US Lacrosse


©JOHN STROHSACKER


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