LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine lacrosse team continues its 2017 non-conference schedule this week with a pair of games at the 3rd Annual Midwest Classic in which the Knights will face Detroit Mercy on Friday at 3 p.m. (ET) before coming back on Sunday to tangle with the Buckeyes of Ohio State in a 1 p.m. (ET) game.  This year Marquette is hosting the event.
 
In taking on the Titans of Detroit Mercy, Bellarmine is facing a familiar foe and one against whom it has had success.  The Knights are 7-1 all-time against the Titans with that lone loss coming in the 2015 Midwest Classic hosted by Bellarmine.
 
Despite being early in the year, Bellarmine (1-2) and Detroit Mercy (1-4) have two common opponents with both squads falling to Michigan and Robert Morris. 
 
While the Knights rebounded from those two losses with a win over Quinnipiac, the Titans' lone win on the season is a 12-11 victory over Jacksonville with two more losses to Ohio State and Mercer.
 
In Sunday's game, Bellarmine will be taking on an Ohio State squad that has started the season 4-0 and is ranked No. 17 by Inside Lacrosse and is No. 20 in the coaches poll.
 
While Bellarmine has enjoyed success against the Tritons, the Knights are just 1-9 against the Buckeyes, including a 5-9 loss last season.
 
Two of the Buckeyes' wins in 2017 have come over Southern Conference members, with OSU defeating Furman 12-6 and Jacksonville 16-8.  Ohio State's two other victories came at the hands of Detroit Mercy and Massachusetts.
 
ABOUT THE MIDWEST CLASSIC
This is the third year of a series that rotates hosts out of the four participating schools in the Midwest in Detroit Mercy, Bellarmine, Marquette and Ohio State. 

Bellarmine hosted the inaugural classic in 2015, while Ohio State was the host last year. Detroit Mercy is set to host the four-team tournament in 2018.