October 13, 2002

Michigan Completes Fall Competition

Lansing, Mich. -- The Wolverines competed in their second Sunday of scrimmages in a row today, this time in Lansing, Michigan at Waverly High School in the Spartan Fall Invitational.  Shortened scrimmages against Western Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois gave the Michigan coaching staff one last look at personnel for the fall.

Despite missing several key players, including starting defensemen Mike Roth (Montclair, NJ/Montclair Kimberley) and John Morgan (Rockville Centre, NY/Southside), midfielders Bobby Groenke (Cincinnati, OH/St. Xavier) and Jim Constantine (Troy, Mich./Seaholm), attackman Paul Mans (Los Altos Hills, Cal./Gunn) and goalie Sooman Kim (Troy, Mich./Troy), the Wolverines showed their depth by sweeping their three contests.

The closest test of the afternoon came against traditional rival Illinois.  The Illini held the score to 4-3, thanks in part to their own disciplined offense and inaccurate Michigan shooters.  After a year away from matching up, and a conference split that has Illinois in the newly formed Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference, the two teams will meet in the regular season March 28 in Ann Arbor.

The previous Sunday Michigan traveled south to Springfield, Ohio to face off against four varsity programs: host Wittenberg, Wooster, Wheeling Jesuit and Ohio Wesleyan.  Like their opponents, the Wolverine coaches used the day to run through basic strategies and get a look at their entire rosters.  The toughest tests of the day came against Wheeling Jesuit, who Michigan will host in their season opener February 15, and traditional Division III power Ohio Wesleyan.  OWU handed the Wolverines their only loss of the day, 6-4.

Michigan will continue to practice through the fall, culminating with the East/West Scrimmage on Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Oosterbaan Fieldhouse.  Michigan's annual Alumni Classic is coming up on Sunday, October 27 at noon on Palmer Field.