Wolverines Set to Travel to Marquette, Host No. 17 Delaware

» Off to the best start in program history, U-M enters the two-game week ranked No. 16, the highest ranking in school history in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
» Junior Josh Zawada enters the week three assists away from the school career record, and nine points away from the single-season program record.
» Saturday's matchup with Delaware will be the first ranked vs. ranked matchup in Michigan's program history.

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The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan men's lacrosse team hits the road for the first time on the season, traveling to Milwaukee, Wis., to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles Tuesday (March 1) at 1 p.m. CT. The Wolverines then close out the week with a ranked matchup against the No. 17-ranked Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday (March 5) at noon at the friendly confines of U-M Lacrosse Stadium.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan enters week five ranked No. 16 in both the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll and the USILA Coaches Poll. The IL Media Poll ranking of 16 is tied for highest in program history, as the Wolverines' previous high prior to the season was No. 17 during the 2018 campaign.

• With 23 goals and 17 assists (40 points) on the year, Josh Zawada is nine points away from the U-M single-season record for points in a season. Through five games, he has yet to play in the fourth quarter in any contest. He also owns 111 points in his career (63 g., 48a.). His 48 assists are three away from breaking Ian King's (2014-17) school assist record.

• The Wolverines have totaled 99 goals over the first five contests of the season, with 20 different players marking at least one goal. Last season, U-M did not score its 99th goal of the second until the tenth game of the year, and the most players to score a goal in a season all-time is 22 (2015).

• The Wolverines are seeking its first 7-0 start in program history. The ranked vs. ranked matchup of the Wolverines and the Blue Hens will serve as the first contest of that variety in program annals. The Big Ten as a conference is 22-4 in non-conference play.

• Per Lacrosse Reference, U-M's cumulative offensive efficiency ranks No. 1, while the defensive unit ranks first as well. Zawada ranks second in the country in the sites' Statistical Tewaaraton with 28.22 expected goals added. U-M's strength of schedule is ranked No. 24.

Scouting the Opponent

Marquette
The Golden Eagles enter the matchup coming off a narrow 12-11 loss against the Utah Utes on Saturday (Feb. 26). The sides share a common opponent, with Marquette knocking off Bellarmine, 9-8, in triple overtime on Feb. 12. The other defeat came on Feb. 19 at Jacksonville by a 14-10 score.

Russell Melendez leads the team in points with nine and assists with five, while Bobby O'Grady boasts a team-best seven goals. Mason Woodward leads the defense with 15 ground balls and eight caused turnovers, while Michael Alleri has stopped 46 percent of shots faced and has a goals-against average of 10.79.

Michigan owns a 2-1 lead in the all-time series, with the last meeting coming on March 11, 2020, when the Wolverines emerged victorious by a 13-12 tally at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. The lone defeat in the series came at Marquette on March 16, 2019, by a 16-13 score.

Delaware
The Blue Hens, U-M's first ranked opponent to date this season, enter ranked #17 in the IL Media Poll and #17 in the USILA Coaches Poll. Wins support a 4-1 record over NJIT (19-9), Mount St. Mary's (12-6) St. Joseph's (12-11), and most recently, a 17-6 win over Monmouth on Feb. 26. The defeat came at No. 7 Duke on Feb. 22, with the Blue Hens falling, 19-14.

The squad boasts a potent offense led by Mike Robinson (15g, 6a) and Clay Miller (15g), while Mark Bieda leads the team in helpers with seven. Longstick middie Owen Grant has caused ten turnovers and collected eight ground balls, but FOGO Logan Premtaj only wins 40 percent of faceoffs (36-of-90) with 18 ground balls. Matt Kilkeary has been the primary option in goal with four starting nods and is stopping 47 percent of shots faced with a goals-against average of 11.99. Paul Reidy also sees time (73 percent, 3.70 goals against) in limited action.

Michigan 1-3 against the Blue Hens all-time, with the victory coming in a neutral site matchup on Feb. 27, 2016, in the Pacific Coast Shootout by a 10-7 score. The last meeting came on Feb. 23, 2019, with the Blue Hens pulling out a 16-13 win at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. The prior two matchups came in U-M's infancy during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Tweet of the Week

??Highest ranking in program history

More work to be done!#GoBlue?? pic.twitter.com/8OkdRc0zCd
— Michigan Men's Lacrosse (@UMichLacrosse) February 28, 2022

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Up Next

Saturday, March 12 -- Harvard (U-M Lacrosse Stadium), 3 p.m. (TV: BTN+)