Lacrosse Programs to Host Doubleheader, Game for Change
3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 29, 2016
» Michigan continues to lead the Big Ten and is 10th in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game, averaging 10.9 per outing.
» The U-M men's and women's lacrosse teams, in collaboration with the One Love Foundation, are joining together to host the second annual Game for Change to promote relationship violence awareness.
» Saturday's game is also the 150th Anniversary Celebration for both programs, as the 2015-16 academic year marks the 150th anniversary of Michigan Athletics. A 150th anniversary commemorative cup will be given to all fans in attendance.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, April 2 -- vs. No. 18 Ohio State (Michigan Stadium), 4 p.m.
| Live Video
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
PROMOTIONS
• Lacrosse Doubleheader -- Get two lacrosse games for the price of one! The men's lacrosse team takes the field against Maryland at noon and a ticket for either game is good for both games!
• 150th Anniversary -- Join the Wolverines in celebrating 150 years of Michigan Athletics!
• Giveaway -- 150th anniversary commemorative cup
• Halftime -- Disc Dogs of Michigan
TEAM THREE: GAME TWELVE
The University of Michigan women's lacrosse team (5-6, 0-0 Big Ten) will kick off Big Ten Conference play, hosting No. 18 Ohio State (9-1, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday (April 2) at 4 p.m. inside Michigan Stadium. The game will be streamed live on MGoBlue.com.
SECOND ANNUAL GAME FOR CHANGE
The Wolverines' matchup with Ohio State is the second game of a doubleheader with the men's lacrosse team, which will host Maryland at 1 p.m. The two programs, in collaboration with the One Love Foundation, are joining together to host the second annual Game for Change to "Unite against Relationship Violence." The Wolverines encourage the U-M student body, faculty, staff and fans to attend the games and speak out if you notice signs of relationship violence around you. The official hashtag of the event will be #Be1ForChange.
The two programs are collaborating with the One Love Foundation, which was founded in honor of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia women's lacrosse player who lost her life in 2010 to an unhealthy relationship involving a member of the UVA men's lacrosse team. The U-M men's and women's teams will be wearing One Love T-shirts during pregame warmups to signify that the issue of relationship violence is bigger than the game of lacrosse and that all teams involved are committed to making a change on the global issue.
To educate fans, tables will be set up on the concourse with handouts containing information about relationship violence awareness, while U-M men's and women's student-athletes will appear on the Michigan Stadium video boards throughout the two games, mentioning facts and statistics. A commemorative banner will also be displayed on the concourse for fans to sign and pledge their commitment to making a change.
Resources and Information
The U-M men's and women's lacrosse programs have partnered with organizations that promote healthy relationships and provide great resources for those seeking more information or advice about preventing potentially harmful relationships.
• For University of Michigan students and staff: Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC)
• For Washtenaw County residents: SafeHouse Center
• General Resource and Danger Assessment App: One Love Foundation
WOLVERINE BITES
• The men's and women's lacrosse games will be a 150th Anniversary Celebration for both programs, as the 2015-16 academic year marks the 150th anniversary of Michigan Athletics. Throughout the year, we are inviting the University of Michigan family to celebrate the passion that fuels us, rediscover the stories and traditions that unite us and imagine what the future holds for us. Baseball was the first Michigan sport to begin competition in 1865. [ 150th Anniversary Website ]
• Michigan continues to lead the Big Ten and is 10th in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game, averaging 10.9 per outing. U-M has caused 12 or more turnovers in eight games this season, including each of the last four. The Wolverines tied a program record with 15 caused turnovers against Oregon (Feb. 19). Juniors Madeline Dion and Kelly Kubach lead the Wolverines with 17 and 16 caused turnovers, respectively, and rank fourth and fifth in the Big Ten. Dion has had nine of those 17 caused turnovers over the last three games, including five against Duquesne (March 20), where she tied her own program record.
• Six different Michigan players have recorded double-digit points so far this season, led by juniors Kim Coughlan (20G, 4A) and Tess Korten (21G, 2A). Anna Schueler (12G, 7A), Jess Angerman (11G, 6A), Natalie Carti (12G, 1A) and Lauren Oberlander (9G, 2A) round out U-M's players with double-digit points. After recording one point in just five games in her first two season at U-M, Carti has recorded at least one point in eight games this season, including a career-best four-goal performance against Central Michigan.
• Junior midfielders Anna Schueler and Kim Coughlan have combined for 57 of Michigan's 119 draw controls this season, recording 29 and 28, respectively. Coughlan has already surpassed the 24 draw controls she recorded last season. Schueler has led U-M in each of the last two seasons, with 46 in 2015 and 54 in 2014.
• Freshman goalie Mira Shane and junior goalie Allison Silber have split time in the cage for U-M so far this season. Shane started each of the first two games while Silber was recovering from a knee injury sustained in the fall. Silber returned to action against Oregon (Feb. 19) and has started each of the last seven games, while Shane has come off the bench, playing at least 30 minutes in six of those seven games. In total, Shane has started four games and earned a goals-against average of 8.28, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 27th in the country, while Silber has gotten the start in seven games and recorded a goals-against average of 11.30 and a save percentage of .455.
• High School Connections: Two Michigan players have hometown connections to members of Ohio State's roster. Anna Schueler and OSU senior Kelsey Gallagher were teammates at Loyola Academy in Chicago, Illinois, while Jess Angerman was also high school teammates with a trio of Buckeyes at Shoreham-Wading River (Long Island, N.Y.) -- juniors Paulina Constant and Meredith Bushell and sophomore Shannon Rosati.
• The Wolverines averaged 11.7 goals per game through the first six games of the season but have averaged 5.6 over the last five games. U-M has been creating chances and has averaged 17.4 shots through those last five games but has struggled to find the back of the net.
• Ohio State will mark the fourth ranked opponent the Wolverines have faced this season. Michigan is currently 0-3 against ranked opponents this season with losses to No. 7 Florida (12-11), No. 11 USC (13-4) and No. 20 UMass (15-5). U-M will face three more teams that are currently ranked in the IWLCA top 10 later in the season -- Maryland (1), Northwestern (8) and Penn State (9).
• Last Time Out: After trailing just 4-2 at halftime, Michigan could not overcome a 6-0 second-half run by Colorado and eventually dropped an 11-4 decision to the Buffaloes on March 27. Tess Korten, Anna Schueler, Natalie Carti and Madeline Dion each scored goals for the Wolverines.
• There are currently 111 NCAA Division I women's lacrosse programs across the country that compete in 13 different conferences, including four first-year programs -- Central Michigan, Virginia Commonwealth, Radford and Army. After competing in the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) during its inaugural season in 2014, Michigan is now a member of the Big Ten Conference, which is in its second season of sponsoring women's lacrosse. Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State and Rutgers join U-M in the Big Ten. Maryland (No. 1), Northwestern (No. 8), Penn State (No. 9) and Ohio State (No. 18) are each ranked in the top 20 nationally in the IWLCA Division I Poll. [ IWLCA Division I Poll ]
Scouting the Opponent: Ohio State
Directed by sixth-year head coach Alexis Venechanos, Ohio State will enter Saturday's contest with a 9-1 overall record -- its best start in program history. OSU's only loss came at No. 14 Stanford (18-7; Feb. 21). Last season, the Buckeyes finished with a 13-8 record, and advanced to the finals of the Big Ten Tournament and the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes have scored more than 15 goals in six of 10 games this season and are averaging 12.8 goals per game while giving up just 8.36 per contest, which is second in the Big Ten. Senior attacker Cian Dabrowski leads OSU and the Big Ten with 43 points (4.3 per game), with 31 goals and 12 assists. Ohio State is second in the Big Ten and ninth in the NCAA in draw controls per game, averaging 14.1 per game, led by sophomore attacker Molly Wood, who leads the conference in draw controls (5.5 per game). OSU is also second in the Big Ten in assists per game, averaging 4.6, led by senior attacker Rainey Hodgson, who is leading the Big Ten with 2.0 per game. Senior goalie Katie Frederick has recorded all of the Buckeyes' decisions, making 68 total saves and registering a save percentage of .469 and goals-against average of 7.76 (2nd Big Ten).
Series vs. Ohio State: Michigan is 0-3 all-time against OSU. U-M and Ohio State faced off in the Wolverines' inaugural Big Ten Conference game last season, falling 13-5 in Columbus. The Buckeyes outscored U-M, 8-2, in the first half of that game, while the second half was more evenly matched with OSU holding a 5-3 advantage.
UP NEXT
Thursday, April 7 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 7 p.m. CDT [ TV: BTN ]
Tuesday, April 12 -- vs. Niagara (Michigan Stadium), 5 p.m.
Communications Contact: Whitney Dixon
