Saturday’s game did not disappoint, as a thrilling back-and-forth affair saw Michigan Lacrosse come up short to Ohio State. This devastating end to the regular season puts the Wolverines’ backs against the walls heading into the Big Ten Tournament:
The No. 12 Michigan Wolverines (7-6, 3-2 Big Ten) blew an 8-5 fourth-quarter lead and fell to the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 4-1 Big Ten), 10-8, Saturday evening.
The program’s first ever Big Ten regular season title was well within reach, and it appeared all wrapped up with just over five minutes remaining. However, the Wolverines could not generate any clock-killing offense and did not come up with clutch defensive stops. Now, head coach Kevin Conry will need a major regroup before the Big Ten quarterfinals next Saturday.
Here’s what we learned:
1: This team does not have a legitimate No. 2 dodger
Outside of Ryan Cohen, who had one goal and two assists despite intense focus from the Buckeyes’ defense, there is nobody on this offense who consistently creates off the dodge. Depth midfielder Josh Ford had a huge juice goal off the bench, and used Aidan Mulholland’s patented one-handed dodge down the right wing to beat his man and the goaltender.
Lukas Stanat is also a load when he gets rolling downhill, especially with his powerful, left-handed shot. However, Bo Lockwood has had a tough time dealing with long poles. Aidan Mulholland was quiet today, and Alex Lobel has yet to expose his short-stick defenders on inverts from behind the cage.
John Morgan did have a shifty, shake-and-bake dodge that resulted in a courageous goal, but that was only one instance today.
Plus, the offense is still missing Jack Jenkins and Nick Roode. Neither of them are superb dodgers, but they add another layer to this unit.
If this team wants to make the NCAA Tournament, it will need to take advantage of short-sticks behind the cage, and guys like Emmett Houlihan, Brandon Plemmons, Lockwood and Lobel will need to be more decisive with the ball in their sticks.
2: Faceoffs are a problem
Jack Rideout actually ended up 10 for 17 on the day, which is nothing to scoff at, but the team was just 1-for-7 in the first half. This slow start at the faceoff X limited what could have been a more resounding first half. The second half was much better, but the Wolverines also benefited from three violations by Ohio State.
They also entered the contest last in the conference in faceoff percentage.
Nick Lauderback has been solid as a number two man this spring, but he went 0-for-5 and did not provide Conry with his usual energy spark off the bench.
The good news is that when Pace Billings (more on him later) is on the wings, every faceoff is a 50-50. The fifth-year long pole is an absolute menace on ground balls, and it felt like every time the Wolverines needed a loose ball, Billings was there.
But, much like the offense, the X has been underwhelming in crunch time and will need a bounce-back performance next week.
3: Pace Billings is an All-American
While I have not watched every minute of every college lacrosse game this year, I have a hard time imagining there are many poles more effective than Billings. He was a complete monster today and had one of the most impressive individual performances of the season.
Billings ended the day with six ground balls, four caused turnovers, was excellent in one-on-one coverage, and had numerous hammering body slides down low. He is a relentless defender who uses his length and long pole to harass ball carriers. Billings also does a great job off the ball, where he uses that stick to deflect passes and shots and can disrupt any offensive flow with his communication and recoveries.
His running mates, Mason Whitney and Kees Van Wees, are no slouches either. But, this is Billings’ defense, and hopefully we can see him end his lone season in Ann Arbor a champion.
4: Hunter Taylor is amazing, but nobody is perfect
The Buckeyes exposed Taylor’s left shoulder today (off-stick high), with numerous shots reaching the back of the net in the same spot. There were wraparounds from GLE, shots off the dodge from 10 yards out and a trickling bouncer that he will surely want back.
By no means is this meant as criticism. Taylor still made 14 saves, and Ohio State’s 10th goal was on an empty net in desperation time. He also came up with several incredible stuffs on the crease and much like every other tight game this season, he kept Michigan in it. If there were a team MVP for the regular season, it would be difficult to vote against Taylor.
He can not bail out the defense every time, yet the team needed more from him during the Buckeyes’ commanding, four-goal run to take the lead late in the game. Expect Taylor to continue his dominance in the Big Ten Tournament.
5: This is a gutting loss for seeding
A victory would have secured a first round bye and a favorable matchup in the Big Ten semifinals. Plus, the final three games of this tournament will unfold at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Now, the Wolverines will have to regroup for next weekend and battle an underrated Rutgers squad in the 4/5 matchup. Michigan still gets home-field advantage for that one, but it becomes a do-or-die scenario.
As the Wolverines are firmly on the bubble (and on the outside looking in), they will need more Big Ten Tournament magic to secure an NCAA Tournament berth. This is nothing new for Conry, but still a disappointing path considering the team’s regular season success. They were so close to winning the conference and heading into the tournament with likely one victory guaranteeing an at-large bid.
Now, Michigan needs to pull off the improbable and win the conference tournament for a third consecutive season.