Michigan
5-0
Colorado
1-3
First-Half Surge Pushes Michigan to Victory over No. 14 Colorado
2/24/2019 5:26:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
» Michigan is 5-0 to start the season after defeating No. 14 Colorado, 8-6.
» Seven Wolverines found the back of the net against the Buffaloes with Lilly Grass scoring two.
» Caitlin Muir tallied her third straight three-assist game against Colorado.
» Michigan will be back in action Tuesday (Feb. 26) at No. 13 Denver.
Site: Boulder, Colo. (Kittredge Field)
Score: #25 Michigan 8, #14 Colorado 6
Records: U-M (5-0), Colorado (1-3)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Feb. 26 -- at No. 13 Denver (Denver Colo.), noon MST
BOULDER, Colo. -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan women's lacrosse team secured its fifth victory of the season -- and its third over a ranked opponent in the history of the program – after defeating No. 14 Colorado, 8-6, at Kettridge Field on Sunday (Feb. 24) afternoon.
"I am proud of the girls for their fight today, said head coach Hannah Nielsen. "We started strong across the board which set us up well in the second half. Despite the offense having some trouble, our defense and Mira Shane in the cage were huge in the second half. We knew it was going to be a tough task and I am really proud of the way they pulled it out."
Junior Molly Garrett opened up the scoring for the Wolverines, scoring less than two minutes into the first quarter before sophomore Caitlin Muir extended Michigan's lead to 2-1 with a goal with 24:17 left in the half. Colorado took advantage of its first free-position attempt, to cut the lead to one, 2-1, with just under 19 minutes remaining in the opening half.
Michigan quickly answered, going on a 5-2 scoring run to end the first half with a 7-3 lead. Muir led the U-M with one goal and three assists, while seven Wolverines in all found the back of the net in the opening 30 minutes of play.
Neither team scored a goal in the second half until Colorado got on the board with 20:49 remaining in the game. Grass netted her second goal of the game with just over 15 minutes to play to keep the Michigan advantage at 8-4. The Buffaloes continued to fight back, adding two more goals -- including one with 49 seconds left in regulation to come within two at 8-6. The Wolverines were able to fend off the Colorado comeback to earning the win.
Colorado took 37 shots compared to Michigan's 20 and the Buffaloes turned the ball over just nine times, but it was the Wolverines that capitalized on their opportunities.
Grass' two goals led U-M , and she has scored at least two goals in every game this season. Muir added one goal and three assists for her third straight game with three helpers. Seven Wolverines scored in all, with senior Adriana Pendino and sophomore Maggie Kane scoring a goal each.
Michigan earned the narrow victory on the draw control, 9-7, with Garrett winning four and sophomore Erin Daly taking two.
Defensively, Muir caused two of Colorado's nine turnovers. Senior Shane made 17 saves, her third game stopping double-digit stops.
Michigan will conclude its trip to Colorado on Tuesday (Feb. 26) when it takes on No. 13 Denver at noon MST.
