Wolverines Welcome Blue Hens for Saturday Matinee

» Bryce Clay, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has led the offense with nine goals and 10 points over the last three games.
» Michigan's man-down unit ranks No. 4 nationally, allowing opponents to convert on only 19 percent of their EMO chances.
» Saturday's matchup is the final non-conference game of the season before Big Ten play commences.

THIS WEEK
Saturday, March 23 -- vs. Delaware (U-M Lacrosse Stadium), noon
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The University of Michigan men's lacrosse team concludes a two-contest week with a matchup against Delaware on Saturday (March 23) at noon from U-M Lacrosse Stadium. The Wolverines are looking to snap a three-game losing streak with its first home win of the season.

Wolverine Bites

• Saturday's contest versus the Blue Hens is the final non-conference matchup of the season. With six contests remaining, four will take place at U-M Lacrosse Stadium, including three Big Ten contests versus Johns Hopkins (March 30), Penn State (April 13) and Ohio State (April 26). Four of the six opponents rank in the top-20 of the latest USILA coaches poll. The combined overall record of the group is 33-11.

• With a rash of injuries at the faceoff position, Michigan has gone 15-of-88 (15 percent) at the dot over the last three games. U-M has utilized six different players at the dot over that span and rank 64th in the NCAA in the category as a team (39 percent).

• The U-M offense has accounted for 33 goals over the past two games despite the struggles at the "X," and ranks No. 17 in the country in offensive efficiency. Bryce Clay, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, has led the offense with nine goals and 10 points over the span.

• With 54 assists through seven games, U-M is averaging 7.71 helpers per contest, which ranks 16th nationally in the category. Sophomore attackman Alex Buckanavage leads the team with 13, and classmate Kevin Mack checks in with 12, ranking 32nd and 36th nationally, respectively. Both Mack and Buckanavage rank No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in usage, with Mack at 10.7 percent and Buckanavage at 10.3, per Lacrosse Reference.

• The U-M defense ranks No. 19 in the country in caused turnovers with 9.57 per game. Led by senior Nick DeCaprio (nine) and Michael Borda (seven), fellow senior shortstick MJ Melillo also boasts six caused turnovers. DeCaprio ranks second in school history in the category with 48, trailing Chase Brown's (2013-16) 66.

• Michigan's man-down unit ranks No. 4 nationally, allowing opponents to convert on only 19 percent of their extra-man offense chances. With four goals allowed, U-M has allowed the third-fewest man-down goals in the country.

• As a whole, U-M's offense boasts six players in double-digit points and ranks No. 20 in the country in points-per-game with 20 a contest. Michigan's extra-man unit has converted 13 extra-man goals, which are tied for the fifth-most in the country, and has scored 86 goals on 140 shots (33 percent) to rank No. 10 in the category.

• U-M has outscored opponents, 22-16, margin in the opening quarter.

Opponent Preview

Delaware
The Blue Hens enter the contest with a 6-2 overall mark, but its schedule is ranked No. 44 in the country with all six wins coming over unranked teams. Most recently, the Blue Hens fell to No. 17-ranked Johns Hopkins, 12-10, on March 16 at Homewood Field in Baltimore.

Defense has been the Blue Hens' calling card thus far, as they boast the No. 5 scoring defense in the country (8.25/game), coupled with goalkeeper Matt DeLuca, who leads the country in save percentage (64 percent), ranks fifth in goals-against average (8.09) and is No. 7 in saves per game (14.38). The team also is clearing at 88 percent, which ranks No. 11 nationally.

Weaknesses lie at the faceoff dot with a team winning percentage of 44, ranking No. 52 in the country, and in shooting percentage (24 percent), which is 64th nationally.

Charlie Kitchen leads the offense with 29 points (19 goals., 10 assists) on 75 shots, while Tye Kurtz (13G, 10A.) and Joe Eisele (17G, 3A.) have also marked at least 20 points.

Delaware owns a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against Michigan. The teams last met on Feb. 27, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California, with Michigan taking the matchup, 10-7.

Ticket Information

Tickets for all remaining U-M men's lacrosse home games are now on sale, with general admission tickets being available for $6 and group tickets (10 or more) on sale for $3 each. Group experiences are also available. Tickets

Tweet of the Week

?#GoBlue?? pic.twitter.com/TazX1BSEnx
— Michigan Men's Lacrosse (@UMichLacrosse) March 20, 2019

Keep Up With the Wolverines

Stay current with everything going on with the Wolverines by following Michigan men's lacrosse on Twitter & Instagram (@umichlacrosse), on Snapchat (@umichathletics) and "liking" the Wolverines on Facebook! Inside access can also be seen via the team's YouTube page by searching "MGoBlueLacrosse."

Next Week

Saturday, March 30 -- vs. Johns Hopkins (U-M Lacrosse Stadium), 3 p.m. (TV: BTN)