Michigan
Rutgers
Michigan to Host No. 8 Rutgers in Regular-Season Finale
4/20/2021 12:19:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
» Sunday's contest is the final regular-season matchup of the season.
» Michigan will honor 13 departing seniors and graduate students prior to the contest.
» Michael Boehm leads the Big Ten in points per game for a freshman (2.78).
THIS WEEK
Sunday, April 25 -- vs. #8 Rutgers (U-M Lacrosse Stadium), Noon
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats | Live Video | Coach Conry Interview (WTKA)
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The University of Michigan men's lacrosse team (2-7, 2-7 Big Ten) concludes the 2021 Big Ten regular season on Sunday (April 25) at noon, hosting No. 8-ranked Rutgers (7-2, 7-2 Big Ten) at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with Mike Corey and Quint Kessenich on the call.
Wolverine Bites
• Sophomore Josh Zawada paces the team in goals (18), assists (11) and points (29). Two other members of the Michigan attack unit also boast 20-plus points in freshman Michael Boehm (15 goals, 10 assists, 25 points) and junior Bryce Clay (18G, 3A, 21P). The attack trio accounts for 51 percent of the Wolverine offense (75 of 143 points).
• Boehm leads all freshman in the Big Ten in points per game (2.78), and checks in at No. 11 nationally in the category as well. Rutgers' Shane Knoblach ranks second in the league in the category (2.22).
• After averaging 18.75 turnovers per game in the first four contests of the season, U-M has drastically cut down on turnovers. Over the last five contests, U-M is now turning the ball over 12.80 times per contest. In the first meeting against Rutgers, U-M turned the ball over 17 times.
• Junior FOGO Nick Rowlett ranks third in the Big Ten in faceoff-win percentage (130-for-239, .540) and continues to lead the Big Ten in ground balls per game, ranking No. 6 in the country (8.44). In Lacrosse Reference's statistical Tewaaraton ranking for FOGOs, Rowlett ranks as the No. 9 faceoff man in the country with a composite expected-goals-added score of 36.82.
• Both Bryce Clay and Josh Zawada are creeping up the U-M record books in offensive categories, with Clay owning 71 points (60 goals, 11 assists) to rank No. 8 all-time in points and No. 5 in goals. Zawada boasts 61 points (34G, 27A) and ranks No. 11. His assist mark checks in at No. 6 in program annals.
• Sunday's contest will be the final home regular-season game for seniors Hunter Batesko, Alex Buckanavage, Ben Cirella, Tillman Gallagher, Ben Keller, Kevin Mack, Steven Schneider, Max Yarranton and Jackson Zaugg. Graduate students Avery Myers, Tyler Papa, Nick Schanhals and Christian Ford also will be honored.
With a win over the Scarlet Knights, the Wolverines will host a first-round game in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.
Opponent Preview
Rutgers
U-M trails 6-1 in the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights
The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights met on March 6 in Piscataway, N.J., with Rutgers taking the matchup by a 22-12 score. Nick Rowlett won 25 faceoffs and had 16 ground balls to set Michigan single-game records in both categories, while Bryce Clay and sophomore Jacob Jackson each scored hat tricks.
Rutgers enters the contest with a 7-2 mark on the season, with its only two losses coming against Maryland on March 13 and March 28.
The Scarlet Knights boast one of the most dynamic offensive units in the country, ranking No. 4 nationally and second in the Big Ten with 15.56 goals per game. Adam Charalambides ranks fourth nationally in goals and No. 10 nationally in goals (3.89) and points (5.22) per game, numbers that rank second in the Big Ten.
Additionally, Connor Kirst and Kieran Mullins both rank fourth in the league in points per game (4.33).
Goalie Colin Kirst ranks second in the league in goals-against average (11.19) and in save percentage (.540) and leads the conference in saves per game (12.78).
Up Next
Saturday, May 1 -- at Big Ten Tournament - First Round, TBA
