Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan to Open 2021 Campaign at Ohio State
2/18/2021 11:35:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
» The Wolverines enter the season ranked No. 9 in both the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse Preseason Polls.
» U-M trails the all-time series with Ohio State 4-3, but has won the last three outings against the Buckeyes.
» Head coach Hannah Nielsen enters her fourth season at the helm of the Michigan program with a 27-15-0 overall record.
» The Wolverines return key starters from the 2020 campaign, including Molly Garrett, Caitlin Muir and Maggie Kane.
THIS WEEK
Sunday, Feb. 21 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.
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The University of Michigan women's lacrosse team kicks off its 2021 Big Ten Conference-only season Sunday (Feb. 21) when it travels to Columbus for a 1 p.m. contest against Ohio State. The matchup will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.
Series History with Ohio State
• Michigan trails, 4-3, in the all-time series with the Buckeyes, but has won the last three meetings, including a 15-10 victory in 2019.
• Head coach Hannah Nielsen's first Big Ten win came against OSU (9-7) in Ann Arbor in 2018.
• Returners Molly Garrett, Maggie Kane and Caitlin Muir scored two goals each against the Buckeyes in the 2019 meeting between the two squads.
In the Polls
• Michigan comes into the season ranked No. 9 in the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse Magazine preseason polls.
• The Wolverines were also picked to finish third by Big Ten coaches behind Northwestern and Maryland.
Returning for a Final Season
• With the 2020 season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes were given the choice to return for the 2021 campaign.
• Seniors Molly Garrett, Quinn Melidona, Nadine Stewart and Sydney Whitaker seized the opportunity and will compete for one final season in 2021.
How it Looked When the Season Ended
• Michigan spread the wealth offensively in 2020 as six players recorded 10 points or more in over the six-game season.
• Caitlin Muir led the Wolverine offense with 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists), while Maggie Kane added 14 points (12G, 2A) and Molly Garrett had 13 (11G, 2A).
• Also returning after posting double-digit points in the 2020 campaign is Kaitlyn Mead, who had 12 points (11 goals, one assist).
• Michigan outscored its opponents, 85-60, last season.
• The Wolverines assisted on 30 of its 85 goals last season compared to 14 assists for opponents.
Welcome to the Newcomers
Head coach Hannah Nielsen brought in nine freshmen for the 2021 season, including attacker Caroline Bean, midfielder Annabelle Burke, midfielder Maddie Burns, defender Ava Class, midfielder Caroline Davis, midfielder Josie Gooch, attacker Meryl Johnson, midfielder Shaylah Marciano, and goalkeeper Maya Santa-Maria.
Shane Returns as Volunteer Assistant Coach
• Michigan's all-time winningest goalie and saves leader Mira Shane returns to Ann Arbor as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2021 season.
• Shane spent four years as in goal for the Wolverines from 2016-19 and left as the winningest goalie in program history with 24 career victories.
• Shane also ranks first in career saves with 360 and career save percentage (.451).
2021 Captains
• Seniors Molly Garrett, Quinn Melidona and Arielle Weissman have been tabbed as captains for the 2021 campaign.
• Garrett and Melidona started all six games a season ago, while Weissman started five between the pipes.
• Garrett helped pace the offense with 13 points, including 11 goals, while Melidona anchored the defense.
• In net, Weissman made 40 saves in her first season as the starting goalie.
Big Ten-Only Season
• The 2021 Michigan women's lacrosse season will be a 12-game conference-only slate which includes six games at U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
• The start of the season was postponed due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The seven-team Big Ten Tournament is scheduled to be played Thursday through Sunday, April 29-May 2, in State College, Pa., with the top seed receiving a bye into the semifinals. First-round games will be played on April 29, and the semifinals are set for April 30. The tournament final will be held May 2.
Up Next
Friday, Feb. 26 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), TBA
Sunday, Feb. 28 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), TBA
