ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines continued their strong start in Big Ten play with an 11-8 victory over Johns Hopkins on Saturday at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. The win moves Michigan to 2-0 in conference action, while the Blue Jays remain winless in league play at 0-2.
Fast Start Propels Michigan
Michigan set the tone early with a dominant first quarter, jumping out to a 3-0 lead behind goals from Aidan Mulholland and Alex Lobel. The Wolverines’ offense continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, extending their lead to 6-2 at halftime. Mulholland led the charge with two goals in the first half, while Lobel also netted a pair.
Johns Hopkins Fights Back
After struggling to find rhythm in the first half, the Blue Jays mounted a strong third-quarter comeback, outscoring Michigan 5-2. Johns Hopkins spread the scoring among multiple players, with Matt Collison netting two unassisted goals and Chuck Rawson adding another late in the quarter. A goal from Liam Burke early in the fourth tied the game at 8-8, but that was the last time the Blue Jays found the back of the net.
Michigan Closes the Door
With the game knotted at eight, Michigan responded with three unanswered goals to secure the win. Emmett Houlihan broke the tie with an unassisted effort, followed by a power-play goal from Lukas Stanat. Mulholland sealed the victory with his third goal of the game at the 2:22 mark.
Key Performers
Mulholland and Lobel each recorded hat tricks for Michigan, while Bo Lockwood contributed a goal and an assist. On the defensive end, Pace Billings anchored the Wolverines with seven ground balls and four caused turnovers.
For Johns Hopkins, Collison and Hunter Chauvette led the team with two goals apiece, while Charlie Iler chipped in two assists. Goalie Oran Gelinas recorded 10 saves but struggled in the final quarter as Michigan pulled away.
Statistical Breakdown
- Shots: JHU 38, Michigan 35
- Shots on Goal: JHU 20, Michigan 21
- Faceoffs: JHU 16-22, Michigan 6-22
- Ground Balls: JHU 25, Michigan 27
- Turnovers: JHU 17, Michigan 14
- Clears: JHU 21-25, Michigan 24-25
- Saves: JHU 10, Michigan 12
Looking Ahead
Michigan, now riding a three-game win streak, will face a tough road test next week against No. 5 Maryland. Johns Hopkins will look to regroup as they return home to take on Penn State, aiming to secure their first Big Ten win of the season.
With the win, Michigan asserts itself as a serious contender in the Big Ten, while Johns Hopkins finds itself in a must-win situation to keep postseason hopes alive.
