Michigan
Notre Dame
Michigan to Face Off With No. 25 Notre Dame in Season Opener
2/3/2026 11:16:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan women's lacrosse team (0-0) travels to South Bend, Ind., for a Friday (Feb.6) season-opening contest against No. 25 Notre Dame. The matchup starts at 7 p.m. inside the Loftus Sports Center.
Notes
• The Wolverines come into the 2026 season as the No. 15-ranked team in the IWLCA Preseason Coaches Poll. Michigan was ranked No. 13 in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Poll.
• Michigan returns six starters and 32 letterwinners from its 2025 campaign, in which it made its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines return the core of their defense in seniors Grace Callahan, Taylor Cullen and Jordyn Harrison, while senior Calli Norris and graduate student Ava Class return on the attacking end of the field. Sophomore Emma Burke, who broke the single-season draw-control record as a freshman, will also make her return to the midfield in 2026.
• U-M welcomed six newcomers for the 2026 season, comprised of four midfielders, one defender and one goalie. The freshman class includes Sofia Cangelosi, Brin Gotham, Amory Imperatore, Elizabeth Johnson, Lee Kestner and Lexi Mullahy.
• Michigan has earned preseason honors as Callahan and Class were named second team USA Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans, and Burke received an honorable mention nod. Callahan enters her final season ranked seventh all-time at U-M with 55 career caused turnovers. The senior defender also ranks eighth all-time at Michigan with 85 career ground balls and was an IWLCA third team All-American, an Inside Lacrosse third team All-American and a USA Lacrosse Magazine third team All-American in 2025. Callahan helps anchor a defense that ranked eighth nationally in 2025, as it gave up just 9.05 goals per game. Class returns for one final season as a Wolverine after earning All-Big Ten first team honors in 2025. The graduate midfielder notched USA Lacrosse third team All-American honors and was an Inside Lacrosse honorable mention All-American in 2025. Class has 44 career goals and 14 assists for 58 total points in three seasons.
• Class and Katharine Merrifield return for a final season in maize and blue. Class appeared in 19 games with 18 starts in 2025 and recorded 31 points with 25 goals and six assists, along with a .644 shots-on-goal percentage and 22 draw-control wins. Merrifield returns to the field after missing 2025 due to injury. The Denver, Colo., native has appeared in 49 career games with 20 goals and one assist.
• Class, Cullen, Norris and Peyton Shreves were voted as team captains for the 2026 season. Cullen helps anchor the nationally ranked Michigan defense, while Class, Norris and Shreves will lead the attack this season.
• Head coach Hannah Nielsen enters her ninth season at the helm of the Michigan program. Nielsen led Michigan to its fourth straight NCAA appearance in 2025 and the best season in Michigan women's lacrosse history in 2024, guiding U-M to its first-ever NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearance.
• Michigan continues its road schedule Friday, Feb. 13, when it travels to Gainesville for a noon contest against Florida.
