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Posted on Sat, Apr 13, 2013 : 6:42 p.m.

Michigan lacrosse remains winless on year after 17-8 loss to Ohio State at Michigan Stadium

By Kyle Austin

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It may not be showing up in the final scores just yet, but players and coaches say this Michigan lacrosse team is showing improvement.

The Wolverines took the field at Michigan Stadium following the spring football game Saturday, and fell to Ohio State, 17-8.

With the season more than three-quarters in the books, the young Wolverines lacrosse program is still looking for its first win of the year. In its second season as a varsity program, Michigan is now 0-12 on the season, after going 1-13 in its inaugural season last year

Senior attackman Thomas Paras, though, said he’s seen improvement throughout the year.

“We’re just looking for that one game where we put together offense, defense, clearing, riding,” Paras said. “I think one game we do one thing well, the next game we don’t do the other aspects so well, so we just need to make sure we put all the aspects together.”

Paras led Michigan with four goals and an assist in an offense that showed it could score agains the Buckeyes. It was Michigan’s defense, and it’s 50 percent efficiency, that was the problem according to Michigan coach John Paul.

“That’s never going to get it done,” Paul said of the efficiency rating.

Michigan scored the first goal of the game and led again, 2-1, early in the first. But the lead lasted not even six minutes, as Ohio State tied the game with 9:09 left in the first quarter.

“We had a great start to the game, and I think that was a testament to the energy we had and the way we all bought into the rivalry,” Paras said.

Michigan made it a two-goal deficit at 5-3 with 10 minutes left in the first half. But from there, Ohio State ripped off seven straight goals and held Michigan off the board until the midway point of the third quarter.

Michigan rallied for three goals in the fourth quarter to avoid its biggest loss of the year. The nine-goal margin of defeat ties the team’s biggest margin of the year, to then-No. 4 Johns Hopkins

“Going through what we’re going through right now, building this program, the thing I’m going to remember about this team, however we finish up, is they do not quit,” Paul said. “You see that in the fourth quarter today, you see that in how hard they continue to play, and it’s something I’m proud of.”

The Wolverines have only three more games -- including Wednesday vs. Detroit, 7 p.m. at Michigan Stadium, in the program's first home night game -- before the ECAC tournament starts May 3 in Geneva, N.Y.

Saturday’s game took place at an hour after the conclusion of Michigan football’s annual spring game. But with temperatures under 40 degrees, many of the estimated crowd of 18,000 at the football game didn’t stick around for the doubleheader.

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.

Comments

Gorc

Sun, Apr 14, 2013 : 12:38 p.m.

Those who stay will be a champions.

MichU

Sun, Apr 14, 2013 : 12:54 a.m.

Never say, "die." Go, Blue!!

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