A season full of firsts will have another as the Michigan lacrosse team is scheduled to play its first official Michigan Stadium home game on March 17.

The Wolverines collected their first victory as a varsity program when they beat Mercer, 14-4, on March 4. Three days later, they played their first regular-season home game at Oosterbaan Field House and lost, 15-8, to Loyola. They face Bellarmine at 3 p.m. on March 17 in Michigan Stadium.

Michigan is 1-6, and head coach John Paul said the victory against Mercer showed his team is adjusting to the move from a club to varsity status.

“I think it’s just an affirmation of where we’re going this season as they learn the process of what we’re doing,” Paul said. “We knew going in this year what kind of challenge we were facing.

“It’s a monumental change no doubt about it,” Paul said. “They weren’t intimidated or shocked by it (the level of competition). You see them gaining confidence each week as they learn what it takes to compete at this level.”

The Wolverines’ upcoming game in Michigan Stadium is part of the build up to the April 14 “Battle in the Big House” game when they take on Ohio State after the Michigan football team’s spring game.

“Everything that we’re doing this year is historical,” Paul said. “In one sense we have this sense of history, but in another sense it feels very normal.”

Michigan, Eastern Michigan swimmers capture conference titles

For the second consecutive season, both the Eastern Michigan University and University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving teams are conference champions.

Eastern captured its 30th Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday in Oxford, Ohio. The Eagles scored 693.5 points and Buffalo finished second at 674.5.

Juniors Jacob Hanson and Jeffery Craig were named Outstanding Swimmer and Diver of the competition, respectively, while diving coach Buck Smith was named the Diving Coach of the Year. Five Eagles were named to the All-MAC first team and three members made the second team.

The Wolverines earned their second consecutive Big Ten Conference title on Feb. 25 in convincing fashion scoring 738.5 points. Michigan won 10 of the 18 swimming events and led from start to finish. Senior Dan Madwed was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, and head coach Mike Bottom earned Coach of the year honors.

Ten Wolverines were named to the All-Big Ten first team and three were selected to the second team. The conference title is the 36th in program history and the third since Bottom took over as coach in 2008.

Mikulak to compete for United States at Pacific Rim Championship

Reigning NCAA all-around champion and Michigan gymnast Sam Mikulak was selected as one of eight gymnasts to represent the United States in the 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships on March 16-17 in Everett, Wash.

The sophomore is a member of the U.S. national team and competed at the Winter Cup in early February.

Three Wolverines collect weekly awards

Three athletes from the University of Michigan recently earned weekly awards in their respective sports.

In softball, freshman Haylie Wagner was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after compiling a 4-1 record last week. Wagner pitched in six games, working 25.1 innings with 18 strikeouts and a 0.83 earned run average.

Michigan baseball’s Michael O’Neil won his second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week award. O’Neil hit .500 for the week with three home runs and nine runs batted in.

The sophomore leads the Big Ten in home runs, RBI, hits, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage.

Men’s lacrosse player Emil Weiss was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week. The goalie made 19 saves in the Wolverines two games last week and was in net for the program’s first varsity victory.

Weiss is the first Wolverine to earn a weekly award from the ECAC.

Upcoming home schedule:

Friday:

Michigan hockey - 7:35 p.m. vs. Notre Dame at Yost Ice Arena

Saturday:

Michigan hockey - 7:35 p.m. vs. Notre Dame at Yost Ice Arena

Sunday:

Michigan hockey - 7:35 p.m. vs. Notre Dame at Yost Ice Arena * if necessary