This was the moment Peter Thompson transferred to Michigan lacrosse for.
Just over a minute into overtime in the Wolverines’ NCAA tournament first-round game at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York, the grad student cut toward the Cornell net as his teammate, Bryce Clay, came out from behind it. Clay fired the ball to Thompson, who just a year ago lost in the first round with Georgetown.
Not this time.
On Sunday, Thompson buried the ball past Cornell goalie Chayse Ierlan 80 seconds into the extra frame to give Michigan a walk-off 15-14 victory. It’s the Wolverines’ first-ever NCAA tourney victory (in their first NCAA appearance) and sends them to the quarterfinals for a matchup with top-seeded Duke in Albany, New York, on Saturday. The winner of that game heads to the national semifinals in Philadelphia on May 27, with the title game slated for May 29.
BUILDING IT UP:How Michigan men's lacrosse went from fledgling program to NCAA tournament
THE REST OF THE TOURNEYS:Michigan women's lacrosse KOs CMU in NCAA tournament to get rematch with Northwestern
It would be a huge step for a program in only its 12th season as a varsity sport in Ann Arbor, just as Thompson’s goal was a huge step for an Ann Arbor native (who starred at Novi Detroit Catholic Central). The goal was the fourth on the afternoon for Thompson; he also assisted on the Wolverines’ first score. Three of Thompson’s goals came in the fourth quarter or overtime, as he set a career mark for goals in a game.
“Being an Ann Arbor kid — y’know, I was born at U of M Hospital, I’ve only ever lived in Ann Arbor — it means so much to me, just ’cause I love this university,” Thompson said in a postgame interview on ESPNU. “I grew up going to football games, basketball games, you name it, with my family, and it’s so special to have ’em here: My dad, my brother took a red-eye in from San Diego just to be here. … It’s the old saying, ‘It takes a village,’ and I had, maybe not the ideal journey when I was at Georgetown, but Michigan gave me a chance, and I’m just so grateful because this means so much to me.”
Thompson appeared to have put the Wolverines solidly in control with his third goal to make it 13-11 Michigan with 4:39 remaining in regulation. But Cornell scored just 25 seconds later, then added the tying goal nine seconds after that, showing the resolve that got the Big Red to the national title game last season.
But Michael Boehm, the Wolverines’ leading scorer this season, gave Michigan the lead again with 1:49 remaining on his third goal of the game (and 48th on the season). But Cornell still wasn’t done; less than a minute later, Billy Coyle came streaking out from behind Michigan’s net, pivoted and fired the ball past freshman goalie Hunter Taylor to tie it at 14-all. Michigan won the ensuing faceoff, but a turnover by Taylor gave the Big Red one final possession in the offensive zone as the clock ticked down. Aiden Blake fired a shot that beat Taylor but glanced off the post, and Coyle followed with a shot wide with two seconds remaining.
Isaac Aronson, Jake Bonomi and Josh Zawada each had two goals for the Wolverines (10-6), and Taylor stopped 16 of the 30 shots on goal he faced. Coyle and Hugh Kelleher led Cornell with three goals apiece.
Both participants of last year's title game — Cornell and champion Maryland — lost in the first round this weekend, as the Terrapins were upset by Army on Saturday.
D-I women: No relief for U-M vs. Northwestern
The Michigan women couldn’t hold onto a one-goal lead entering the fourth quarter of their NCAA tournament second-round matchup against top-seeded Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois, on Sunday. The Wolverines lost, 8-7, to the Wildcats.
It’s the 15th straight loss to Northwestern for U-M, and the second straight season that the Wildcats have eliminated the Wolverines from the NCAA tournament. Northwestern will face Loyola Marymount in the third round Thursday, with the winner advancing to the national semifinals in Cary, North Carolina on May 26.
Julia Schwabe’s first goal of the game gave U-M a 6-5 lead with 10:24 remaining in the third quarter, but the Wildcats answered with three quick goals in the fourth, as Erin Coykendall, Hailey Rhatigan and Carleigh Mahoney struck in just over four minutes to give Northwestern an 8-6 lead. Schwabe added another goal to get U-M within one score with 4:36 remaining, but that was as close as the Wolverines could get.
Leading scorer Jill Smith added two goals and an assist for U-M, and Erin Garvey, Josie Gooch and Kaley Thompson also scored for the Wolverines. Northwestern’s Izzy Scane, who entered the NCAA tournament leading the nation at 5.06 goals per game, was held to just a goal and an assist.
D-II women: Popping Champagne in Denver
Maddy Champagne scored with 18 seconds remaining in overtime on Sunday to cap a furious comeback by Grand Valley State in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Denver. Champagne’s score from the free position gave the Lakers an 11-10 victory and their first-ever trip to the national semifinals on Friday in Indianapolis.
The victory was particularly sweet coming against Indy, which knocked out GVSU in the second round of the NCAA tourney last season en route to winning the national title. Champagne’s score was made possible by Sydney Stone, who scored twice — half of her game-high four goals — in the final 153 seconds to send the game to OT. Molly Bursinger assisted on both of Stone’s goals and added two more scores of her own, while Zoe Zigler also scored twice for the Lakers. Indy was led by Anna Ziemba’s three goals.
