Links: Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Merrimack College men's lacrosse team stormed back in the second half and stunned Big 10 opponent Michigan, 14-12, Saturday afternoon at U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
Merrimack scored seven of the game's final 10 goals, as it shook free from the Wolverines after Michigan held a 9-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Sean Black,
Charlie Bertrand and
Christian Thomas all finished with five points or more, as the Warriors' dominant offensive trio was on point all afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 14, Michigan 11
Records: Merrimack (1-3, 0-0 NEC) | Michigan (2-2, 0-0 Big 10)
Attendance: 391
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack got the start it was looking for, as Black and Bertrand both found the back of the net in the opening four minutes to stake the visitors to an early two-goal lead.
- Michigan quickly narrowed the gap, but Christian Thomas and Bertrand sparked another 2-0 run to give the Warriors a 4-1 lead late in the first quarter.
- The Wolverines had a late tally, but Allyn French's first career goal sent the Warriors into the first break with a 5-2 advantage.
- Michigan climbed back into the game in the second quarter. Christian Thomas scored and Bertrand completed his hat trick, but the Wolverines sandwiched that with six goals of their own to take an 8-7 lead into the half.
- The home side kept momentum going to start the second half, as they scored just 16 seconds in, but it was all Warriors after that.
- Merrimack's dominant finish to the game started with Drew Hailey. He took a Christian Thomas pass in traffic and finished from point blank.
- Jack Richards tied the game up just a minute and a half later on the man-up to send the game back to level.
- Michigan briefly retook the lead five minutes later, but Bertrand put one on his well-documented highlight reel three minutes after to tie it up again. He took a pass from Black with a defender draped on him, and chucked a shot behind his back that found the top half of the net.
- Michigan took another lead with three minutes to play, but Black answered just a minute later to send the game into a tie to the fourth quarter.
- Bertrand came in clutch to start the fourth, as he ripped home his fifth of the afternoon just a minute in to give Merrimack its first lead since midway through the second quarter.
- Black extended the Warrior lead under two minutes later with his hat trick goal.
- Michigan scored with an extra man with 7:50 to play to bring the deficit to one, but Black had an answer.
- With under three minutes to play in the game, Black sent what turned out to be the dagger in the heart to the Wolverines, as he found the back of the net once again to give Merrimack a two-goal lead.
- Merrimack's defense did not let Michigan get off another shot for the final 2:16 of the game, as they sealed the deal for the Warriors' first Division I win.
Notes and Numbers
- Black led all players with seven points on the strength of four goals and three assists.
- Bertrand netted five goals, which brings his season total to 16. His four goals per game average puts him in the top-20 in the nation in scoring.
- Peter Brown was between the pipes all game for the Warriors and made a season-high 10 saves.
- French took all 29 face-offs for the Warriors and ended the day with 18 wins for a .621 winning percentage.
- Shots: 40-38 Michigan (28-22 Merrimack SOG)
- EMO: Merrimack: 3-6 // Michigan: 4-5
- Faceoffs: 18-11 Merrimack // Ground Balls: 31-27 Merrimack
- Turnovers (CT): 17-12 Merrimack (10-6 Michigan) // Clears: Merrimack: 16-21 // Michigan: 16-17
Up Next
The Warriors finish their stretch away from Duane Stadium with a battle against Vermont Feb. 29 in Burlington. Face-off is set for 12 pm at Virtue Field.
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