Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan to Travel to Ohio State for Big Ten Tournament First Round
4/27/2021 2:11:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
» Fifth-seeded Michigan makes its first-ever Big Ten Tournament appearance, taking on fourth-seeded Ohio State in Columbus in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
» The matchup marks the first time in program history that U-M has taken on the same team three times in a season.
» Freshman Michael Boehm is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week following his six point performance against Rutgers.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, May 1 -- at Ohio State - Big Ten Tournament First Round (Columbus, Ohio), 4 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Video | Tournament Central
• Coach Conry Interview (WTKA)
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The No 5-seeded University of Michigan men's lacrosse team (2-8) will make its first-ever Big Ten Tournament appearance when it takes on fourth-seeded Ohio State in the first round on Saturday (May 1) at 4 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio. The matchup will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
The winner of Saturday's contest will face No. 1-seed Maryland in the tournament semifinals on Thursday, May 6, at 5 p.m. in State College, Pa.
Wolverine Bites
• Freshman Michael Boehm, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Tuesday (April 27) for his two-goal, four-assist performance against Rutgers, leads the team in assists (14), ranks second of the team in points (31) and third in goals (17). He also paces the team in shooting percentage (.490), having converted 17 of 35 shots taken.
• Sophomore Josh Zawada leads the team in goals (21) and points (33), and also boasts 12 helpers on the year. Fellow attackman junior Bryce Clay owns 20 goals and three assists for 23 points.
• As an attack trio, Zawada, Boehm and Clay account for 52 percent of U-M's total points (87 of 166). Collectively, U-M's underclassmen account for 78 percent of Michigan's 166 total points on the year (130).
• After carrying a goal differential of minus-29 in the first half of the Big Ten-only slate, U-M is a mere minus-13, highlighted by a pair of one-goal defeats against Penn State (14-13, April 16) and Rutgers (13-12, April 25).
• After averaging 18.75 turnovers per game in the first four contests of the season, U-M has drastically improved over the last six contests, now turning the ball over 12.33 times per matchup. In the first meeting against the Buckeyes, U-M turned the ball over 18 times, but only 11 times in the second matchup.
• Junior FOGO Nick Rowlett ranks third in the Big Ten in faceoff win percentage (148-for-268, .550) and continues to lead the Big Ten in ground balls per game, ranking No. 6 in the country (8.90). In Lacrosse Reference's statistical Tewaaraton ranking for FOGOs, he ranks as the No. 8 faceoff man in the country with a composite expected-goals-added score of 45.13.
• Bryce Clay and Josh Zawada are creeping up the U-M record books in offensive categories, with Clay owning 73 points (62 goals, 11 assists) to rank No. 8 all-time in points and No. 5 in goals. Zawada boasts 65 points (37G, 28A) and ranks No. 11. His assist mark checks in at No. 6 in program annals.
Opponent Preview
Ohio State
All-time series against the Buckeyes: U-M trails, 8-1
The Buckeyes are riding a two-game losing streak, falling to Maryland on April 18, 18-8, on the road and most recently suffered a 10-9 setback against Penn State on April 24 in Columbus. With a 4-6 overall record, all four Buckeye victories have come against either Johns Hopkins or Michigan.
OSU's offense ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten, averaging 11.40 goals/game, and also rank No. 3 defensively, surrendering 12.70 goals/contest. The offense is led by Jack Myers, who ranks No. 4 in the league with 3.10 goals per game, and No. 6 in points (4.10). Tre Leclaire, one of the best shooters in the conference, ranks No. 10 in the league with 2.30 goals/contest.
Longpole Jeff Henrick leads the conference is caused turnovers with 1.20/game, while FOGO Justin Inacio ranks No. 4 in the league in faceoff win percentage (.550) and ground balls per game (6.11). Goalie Alec de van Bovenkamp is third in the league in save percentage (.450) and No. 3 in goals-against average (11.82).
The U-M and OSU have met twice this season, with Ohio State taking both contests. The first came on March 14 in Columbus, as U-M fell by a 13-10 score. The latter was an eight-goal defeat on March 27 in Ann Arbor.
In the first contest, U-M trailed 6-5 at the half, and were within two scores with 28 seconds remaining in the contest. Michael Boehm led U-M with three goals and an assist, while goalie John Kiracofe made 11 saves. The second contest saw freshman Grant McCurry score his first goal as a Wolverine in defeat.
Saturday's game will mark the first time in program history that the Wolverines will play the same opponent three times in one season.
