In the Big Ten quarterfinals with NCAA postseason implications on the line, No. 4 seed Michigan men’s lacrosse team took the field on Saturday hoping to get a second win against No. 5 seed Rutgers following their recent regular-season matchup. However, the Wolverines entered the game with a thinned-out roster and an uphill battle in front of them.
Despite a dominant first quarter and a resilient defensive effort, Michigan (7-7 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) couldn’t overcome their second-half struggles and injury-depleted roster, falling to the Scarlet Knights (7-8, 2-3), 11-8.
The Wolverines exploded in the first quarter, firing in four goals in the first ten minutes and outrunning Rutgers early on. Senior midfielder Aidan Mulholland scored the opening goal just a minute in off a pass from senior attacker Ryan Cohen. Cohen followed with a goal of his own, with another from Mulholland and one more from junior attacker Bo Lockwood to finish the scoring rush. However, due to Rutgers’ response by scoring three goals in the span of 4 minutes and a final one with just one second left, by the end of the quarter, the score was even at 4-4.
In the second quarter, Michigan kept up its offensive production, still allowing for a competitive game. The Scarlet Knights never let up through the entire game, starting with a goal in the first minute of the quarter and ending with another only 19 seconds left on the clock. Meanwhile, Cohen scored unassisted with just three minutes left in the half, putting the Wolverines behind by one goal with a score of 6-5.
“We switched to a zone for a little bit,” Michigan coach Kevin Conry said. “We were able to get some strong minutes for some guys that we had to dip into the bench a little bit just due to some injuries. So we should have just played a little bit better, and we cleared a little bit more effectively.”
That minor defensive tweak helped Michigan slow Rutgers momentarily, but the Scarlet Knights persevered in the third quarter, scoring four goals compared to the Wolverines’ one. Mulholland completed his hat trick with just over three minutes to go in the third, but Rutgers still took a 10-7 lead heading into the final quarter.
Despite a roster battered by injuries, Michigan leaned on its banged-up players who still battled it out on the field. One of which was graduate attacker Lukas Stanat who often provided an offensive spark but was limited on Saturday by his hamstring injury. Yet, with its depth tested and not enough healthy players, the Wolverines still managed to claw for possession and make critical plays which served as a testament to their resilience all season.
“I think you reflect on the seniors, and you look at them and you say, ‘Hey, I know we’re depleted, I know we’re banged up,’ but these young men have put so much into this for all of us on the roster,” Conry said. “Whether you played a second, or if you haven’t, we were going to give everything we can give for our senior class.”
But Michigan’s depth could only be tested for so long, and its cracks started to show later in the game. Injuries to junior midfielder Carson Billig and a limited Stanat left the Wolverines without its usual key contributors in a game that needed more offensive plays to get more goal production. Overall, the Scarlet Knights looked sharper and more cohesive on offense, capitalizing on its possessions and consistently generating scoring chances, allowing them to take advantage and define their lead in the final two quarters.
Walking away with the 11-8 defeat against Rutgers and now with a record sitting at .500, Michigan faces a long shot at making the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re probably on the outside looking in,” Conry said. “We played the second-hardest schedule in Division I lacrosse, so that puts us in position to be in the conversation. But unfortunately, today, I think we needed at least maybe two more [goals]. We’ll watch the selection show next Sunday. But we’ll eat some pizza, hang out together and then see where the chips fall.”
Though the Wolverines showed sparks in the beginning of the game, it became clear that its shorthanded roster couldn’t overcome the Scarlet Knights’ relentless offense. For Michigan, the Big Ten Tournament outcome didn’t go their way, but they’ll wait and hope its strength of schedule and regular-season results earn it one more shot at an NCAA Tournament bid.
