Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Michigan upset No. 4 Notre Dame 13-12 in South Bend on Wednesday, the biggest win for the Wolverines since transitioning from club to varsity men’s lacrosse in 2012.
Michigan never trailed in the contest. The Irish, which had defeated Denver and Virginia the last two weeks, tied the game on seven different occasions — including a two-goal spurt that knotted it at 8 apiece early in the fourth quarter. But the Wolverines answered every time.
Brent Noseworthy led the way with five goals and an assist. Kevin Mack and Decker Curran each added two goals and two assists.
“From the get-go, we played Michigan lacrosse and we really gutted the win out,” Noseworthy said in a post-game video interview tweeted by the team. “We were leading the whole game, and it was a contest for all four quarters. We had a lot of guys step up and make big plays.”
SING IT.#EarnIt | #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LYq3s35Anw
— Michigan Lacrosse (@UMichLacrosse) March 21, 2018
The Wolverines (6-2) have won four straight games since back-to-back losses at Penn and Yale in late February. Michigan’s win over Notre Dame was its first ever over a top-five team and just its second against a nationally ranked opponent.
“Quick celebration,” Noseworthy said. “We got a game Saturday [at UMBC], so we get back to work tomorrow.”
2. Towson upset No. 5 Florida 14-11 in the marquee women’s lacrosse game Wednesday.
After allowing the first three goals, the No. 14 Tigers stunned the Gators with a 13-2 run, dominating for nearly 33 minutes. Florida scored six goals over the final 11:29, but it was too little too late.
Kiley Keating made a career-high 11 saves and Kaitlin Thornton scored a career-high four goals in the victory, Towson’s first win over Florida in three tries. The teams combined for 26 turnovers in the second half.
The Tigers, who now own wins over Penn State and Florida, host Oregon next Monday on US Lacrosse Day at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
3. James Madison won’t have to wait long for another top-10 showdown after Virginia postponed Wednesday’s game due to inclement weather and unplayable conditions. The undefeated and second-ranked Dukes, off to their best start in 30 years thanks largely to a refortified defense, get a chance to show their mettle Saturday at third-ranked Maryland.
4. Abdul El-Sayed, the former Michigan club lacrosse player bidding to become the first Muslim governor in U.S. history, opened up about his experiences as an ethnic minority in the sport and how it helped prepare him for politics and public life.
5. Regy Thorpe, head coach of the U.S. indoor team, says he’s leaving “no stone unturned” in his search for box lacrosse talent leading up to the 2019 world championship—identifying five traditional field players who made a positive first impression in January.