Michigan Magic: Wolverines Upset Eighth-Seeded Cornell in Overtime

Michigan isn’t done making history.

Fresh off a surprise run to the Big Ten championship, the Wolverines upset eight-seeded Cornell 15-14 in overtime Sunday at Schoellkopf Field.

Graduate transfer Peter Thompson was the unlikely hero, scoring his fourth goal on Michigan’s first possession of overtime to send the Wolverines to the NCAA quarterfinals in their first appearance in the tournament.

Neither team led by more than two goals during regulation, and though Michigan took a 14-13 lead into the final minute of play courtesy of a Michael Boehm lefty wraparound, Cornell's Billy Coyle scored the equalizer with just 59 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Big Red faceoff specialist Jack Cascadden won the overtime faceoff and nearly scored, but freshman goalie Hunter Taylor — who emerged as the starter midway through the Big Ten tournament — thwarted the shot with his 16th save.

After a timeout, the Wolverines put the ball in Boehm’s stick. He drew a quick slide from Cornell behind the goal and moved the ball to Bryce Clay on the left wing. Clay moved it quickly across the crease to Thompson, who dipped his body to get Big Red goalie Chayse Ierlan to lunge low as he deposited it calmly over Ierlan’s shoulder.

Michigan (10-6) won despite playing without one of its top playmakers. Sophomore attackman Ryan Cohen, the team’s No. 3 scorer behind Josh Zawada and Boehm, “due to an internal issue within the program,” per the ESPNU broadcast.

Boehm finished with three goals—giving him a school-record 45 this season — and an assist. Jake Bonomi and Isaac Aaronson added two goals apiece.

Defenseman Andrew Darby battled admirably with Cornell’s CJ Kirst, a Tewaaraton finalist whom Darby limited to two goals and an assist on 2-for-10 shooting. Coyle and Hugh Kelleher paced the Big Red with three goals apiece.

The Wolverines will play top-seeded Duke in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday at Albany. The Blue Devils survived an upset bid by Delaware. They eked past the Blue Hens 12-11 after trailing 8-5 at halftime.

“We have that mindset, why not us?” Michigan coach Kevin Conry said during the ESPNU broadcast Sunday. “Because there’s no tomorrow.”