Michigan
1-2
Butler
0-1
Wolverines Break in New Home with Win Over Butler
2/16/2018 6:33:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
» The Wolverines recorded their first win of the season and first win under head coach Hannah Nielsen in the inaugural game in U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
» Adriana Pendino recorded a career-high five goals and tied a career-best three free-position goals.
» Alli Kothari earned the start in cage and held Butler scoreless through the first half, recording seven saves, including three on free-position attempts.
» The Wolverines forced 15 Butler turnovers, which tied her for second all-time at Michigan.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Lacrosse Stadium)
Score: Michigan 12, Butler 2
Records: U-M (1-2), BU (0-1)
Attendance: 124
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 18 -- vs. Canisius (U-M Lacrosse Stadium), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In its inaugural game inside U-M Lacrosse Stadium, the University of Michigan women's lacrosse team took down Butler, 12-2, on Friday (Feb. 16). The win marks the Wolverines' first of the season and first collegiate win for first-year head coach Hannah Nielsen.
Overall, seven players scored in the win: junior Adriana Pendino (5), sophomore Chandler Kirby (2), and one apiece from graduate student Bianca Brueckner, juniors Grace Hemmer and Maddie Klee, sophomore Nadine Stewart and freshman Maggie Kane. Pendino's five goals are a career high and put her in a tie for second for goals in a single game at Michigan. Three of the goals came on free-position shots, which matches her career-high.
Junior goalie Alli Kothari shut out Butler in the first half, recording seven saves, including three on Butler's free-position attempts.
In the first half, Kirby drove up the middle to net the first goal for the program in the new U-M Lacrosse Stadium, making it 1-0 with 20:45 remaining in the half. Seven minutes passed before Pendino scored her first of five goals at the 13:37 mark and gave U-M a 2-0 edge. Kirby netted her second goal of the game on an assist from Brueckner to grow the Wolverines' lead to 3-0 at 9:07.
In a 47-second span, U-M added two more goals to hold a 5-0 advantage at 5:03. The first goal was scored by Kane, her second career goal, on an assist from Kirby followed by an unassisted goal from Stewart. Brueckner curled around the crease to score her third goal of the season at the 3:19 mark before Pendino converted a free-position shot with four seconds on the clock to send the Wolverines into halftime with a 7-0 lead.
The second half began just as the first had ended. Two free-position goals from Klee and Pendino, respectively, by the 28:45 mark gave U-M a 9-0 lead and Pendino her third straight game with a hat trick. Less than two minutes later, Klee connected with Pendino to bring her total for the afternoon to four goals and U-M's lead to 10-0 with 27:25 remaining.
Butler scored its first goal at the 21:20 mark on a man-up FPA, but Pendino struck again one minute later on a free-position attempt to make it 11-1. The goal marked a career-high fifth of the game for Pendino. After a scoreless seven minutes, Hemmer netted the Wolverines' 12th and final goal on a free-position shot to give U-M a 12-1 lead at 12:52. Butler scored a free-position goal with 1:16 remaining, making the final score 12-2.
Overall, the Wolverines won 11 of 15 draw controls, including seven of eight in the second half. Kane recorded a team-high four draw controls, followed by sophomore Molly Garrett with three. The Wolverines had 15 caused turnovers, tied for second all-time in a single game at U-M, led by three from Pendino.
Michigan's large second-half lead allowed 25 Wolverines to see playing time in today's win. Five players made their Michigan debuts -- junior Sarah Mehlman, sophomores Catherine Granito, Sara Parnes and Erin O'Shaughnessy and freshman Caroline Witkowski. Granito finished with one caused turnover and a team-high three ground balls.
The Wolverines will wrap up their home-opening weekend when they host Canisius on Sunday (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m. at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. [ Tickets ]
Tweet of the Game
Thank you to everyone who made our new stadium possible. It was great to get our first W at our new home. #GoBlue ?? pic.twitter.com/CdLZSxQBch
— Michigan Women's Lacrosse (@UMichWLAX) February 16, 2018
