Stevens' Top 20: One Game Doesn't Mean Everything for Michigan, UNC

Not everything learned about a lacrosse season in early February holds up over the long haul. But it almost always stands out more than things gleaned in March and April, because there is so little information to work from.

Michigan’s trip to North Carolina figured to provide some insight on both. The Wolverines were coming off back-to-back Big Ten tournament titles. North Carolina has missed the last three NCAA tournaments. And yet it wasn’t outlandish to think their game — the Tar Heels’ opener, Michigan’s second game — might be a bit of a toss-up.

Well, it was not a toss-up. Not with North Carolina starting fast and never trailing in a 15-6 blowout.

This might not seem to bode well for the Wolverines (1-1), but it’s worth remembering that February Michigan hasn’t resembled late April or early May Michigan the last two seasons. There is work to do in Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines weren’t defined by a shaky non-conference outing or two in 2023 or 2024. They don’t have to be this year, either.

As for North Carolina, the glimmers from its finale a year ago — when it ambushed a rested Duke team — surfaced again Saturday. The Tar Heels were quite young last year, leaning on freshmen Owen Duffy, Dominic Pietramala and Brady Wambach to play major roles.

They each acquitted themselves well, and now they’re sophomores. Duffy had four goals and two assists Saturday; Pietramala had four goals and an assist. One game doesn’t mean North Carolina has returned, but it does look like it is on the right trajectory given its smashing 2025 debut.

Patrick Stevens is a longtime USA Lacrosse Magazine contributor. This is his weekly submission to the USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20.

1. Notre Dame (0-0)

The Irish open with their only midweek game of the season, a Wednesday date at home with Cleveland State. Marquette visits South Bend two days later. (Last week: 1)

2. Syracuse (2-0)

Joey Spallina piled up five goals and five assists in the Orange’s 13-5 defeat of Vermont. Syracuse has yet to trail this season and has led for all but 3:47 in its first two games. (Last week: 2)

3. Princeton (0-0)

The Tigers’ rigorous non-conference schedule begins Saturday at Penn State, with Maryland, Duke and North Carolina to follow by March 2. (Last week: 3)

4. Cornell (0-0)

Up first for the Big Red is 0-2 Lehigh, which allowed 10 goals to both Fairfield and Rutgers but averaged 6.5 goals in those losses. (Last week: 4)

5. Virginia (1-0)

Is there a more perfect way for a Lars Tiffany team to begin a season than with a long stick midfielder scoring 14 seconds into it? Ben Wayer’s goal was the first of 12 the Cavaliers amassed in the first half of a 19-9 rout of Colgate. (Last week: 5)