Michigan Lacrosse had a bit of a rollercoaster ride in 2024 after a very successful 2023 season. The Wolverines started the year with one of the toughest teams you can play in Virginia. This was a real wake up call for the entire Michigan lacrosse program as they loss 11-19 in a game that was never within reach. They continued strong in non-conference play after that game, picking up solid wins over Canisius, Hobart, and Marquette, all by comfortable margins. Their schedule continued to climb while their record did as well taking down Jacksonville and Delaware before hitting a wall against Harvard and Notre Dame. Those back-to-back losses were tough, especially the one in South Bend, where they struggled to get anything going against an elite Irish squad.
Once conference play kicked in, the season took a turn the Wolverines probably weren’t expecting. They made a statement early by edging out Maryland 12-11, proving they could go toe-to-toe with the Big Ten’s best. But that momentum didn’t last long as they dropped back-to-back games to Johns Hopkins and Rutgers which only dug the team further in the hole. The Penn State game was the dagger with a rough 8-14 defeat that left them searching for answers. When it came to the rivalry game, Michigan snagged a gritty road win at Ohio State by one goal before beating them again at home in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Michigan lacrosse program has a way of molding into a powerhouse when it comes to the Big Ten Tournament and 2024 was not exception, taking down Johns Hopkins and Penn State in convincing fashion to secure the conference tournament crown. However when it came to the NCAA Tournament, their season ended at Denver, falling just short in an 11-16 loss.
Michigan Lacrosse had some serious firepower in 2024, led by Ryan Cohen, who put up an impressive 71 points with 34 goals and 37 assists. Right behind him was Michael Boehm, matching the 34-goal mark and adding 31 assists for 65 points. Justin Tiernan was the team’s pure goal-scorer, leading Michigan with 57 goals despite only recording four assists. Michigan native Bo Lockwood also made an impact as a playmaker with 29 assists. In net, Hunter Taylor was solid all season, making 180 saves with a .494 save percentage.
While it has been great to see the Michigan lacrosse program rise to new heights over the past couple years, the 2025 season will be a big test to see if the team can reload. Ryan Cohen returns for his senior year and will have to perform at a similar level as last year. Bo Lockwood will have to take a much needed step up as he is now a major focal point of the offense. Hunter Taylor returns in between the pipes after a solid season in the cage. The lose a ton of production with Boehm and Tiernan moving on, and it will be interesting ot see what new faces emerge.
Michigan Lacrosse has a 2025 schedule that will test them early and often. They open at home against Marquette before hitting the road for a tough matchup at North Carolina. A road trip to Hobart follows, and then things ramp up with a huge test at Duke especially considering how the Michigan lacrosse program has performed against ACC teams in the past. They return home for back-to-back games against Canisius and Cleveland State, which should help them build momentum. After that, they face Harvard on the road before a massive showdown at home against Notre Dame this time on home turf.
Big Ten play will be just as grueling as it always is. They travel to Maryland, always one of the toughest teams in the country, before hosting Johns Hopkins and Penn State, both teams Michigan handled in the playoffs. A road trip to Rutgers will be tough on the legs, and they close the regular season at home against Ohio State, a matchup which Michigan has owned for a number of years now. If Michigan can navigate this schedule, especially their tough road games, they’ll be in a great position for a strong postseason push. The main thing to watch this year is which faces will take a much needed step up.