Michigan Lacrosse struggled in all facets of the game and Notre Dame could do no wrong. Here’s what happened Saturday in Ann Arbor:
The Michigan Wolverines (4-4) were over-matched on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, falling to the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-2) by a score of 19-7.
Michigan was need in of a victory after last weekend’s loss and the upcoming Big Ten gauntlet. However, a slow start snowballed into a blowout as nothing seemed to go its way.
Notre Dame jumped out to a 5-1 lead after 15 minutes. By early in the second quarter, it was 7-1. The Wolverines had no answer for FOGO Will Lynch, who controlled the X with 13 wins on 16 draws. Jack Rideout battled and ended up 7-of-18, but his clamps were a tick slower all day.
This forced the Wolverines into far too many defensive possessions and far too much pressure on netminder Hunter Taylor. The Fighting Irish had their way on dodges, inside feeds were open and they were tenacious as riders.
All-American attackman Chris Kavanagh proved particularly pesky with four goals and three assists, leading all scorers.
Michigan had its moments, however, as the defense dialed in (in large part due to active sticks in passing lanes) and the offense began to flow. SSDM Carson Billig notched his first career goal on a heroic coast-to-coast effort and Taylor picked up his first career assist.
It suddenly trailed only 8-4 in the third quarter.
The Wolverines were set up on offense when a Notre Dame player snapped his stick, forcing him to return to the sidelines. If they had scored on the brief 6-on-5, it would have maintained their momentum and potentially propelled them into a tight finish.
Unfortunately, head coach Kevin Conry had to call a timeout to preserve the ball. On the ensuing play, the Wolverines were called for a moving pick. It was a thwarted opportunity as the Fighting Irish went on to rattle off nine consecutive goals.
Ryan Cohen was held in check and the entire offense struggled. Yes, they had limited possessions and perhaps felt more pressure to convert, but it was a sloppy overall performance. Outside of Lukas Stanat’s two goals, nobody had a particularly good game.
I could nitpick the Wolverines’ preparation and execution, but ultimately, Notre Dame was just on another level. Coming off back-to-back losses to Big Ten opponents, the two-time defending national champions needed this one even more badly than Michigan.
The Wolverines enter conference play at a crossroads. They have faltered against superior talent and beaten up weaker squads. Maybe they are destined for a .500 or worse finish.
The next couple games will dictate this season. If Michigan can find its offensive mojo and regain its defensive structure, this team is still a tough out. However, with no layups remaining, Conry will need to right the ship before this season gets out of hand.