Michigan
USC
Wolverines to Head to No. 13 USC, Arizona State for West Coast Swing
2/21/2024 2:19:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's lacrosse team (3-0) hits the road out west to take on No. 13 USC (3-0) on Saturday (Feb. 24) at noon PST in Los Angeles, Calif., before finishing the trip Tuesday (Feb. 27) at Arizona State (3-0) at 3 p.m. MT in Tempe, Ariz.
Notes
• U-M comes into week three with its highest ranking in program history, jumping four spots to No. 6 after its defeat of then-No. 4 Denver at U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
• The Wolverines earned it biggest win in program history when it Denver 8-4 in their home opener. It marked just the second time in program history Michigan has defeated a top-five program with the first coming in 2022 against No. 5 Notre Dame.
• The Michigan defense leads the nation in scoring defense, giving up just three goals per game. The defensive cohort allowed just one goal against Jacksonville and only four against Cincinnati and Denver, which scored 16 goals in its season opener. The defensive duo of Maddie Burns and Grace Callahan have caused nine turnovers, while the team has caused 20 total in three games.
• Junior goalkeeper Erin O'Grady earned a trio of awards after her most-recent week in the cage. She was named the IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week, the USA Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. O'Grady started the week with eight saves in a win at Cincinnati before keeping the powerful Denver offense to just four goals and making a career-best 13 saves. The Massapequa, N.Y., native has a 2.66 goals-against average and has made 30 saves.
• Burns and junior Jill Smith were named to the 2024 Tewaaraton Award Watch List for the second straight season. Burns has led a defense that has given up just nine goals in three games, while Smith paces the offense with 12 points (nine goals, three assists).
