2023 Women's Top 30: How Michigan Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

MICHIGAN WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 18/13
2023 record: 12-8 (3-3 Big Ten)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Michigan was just 3-3 (granted, the losses came to NCAA tournament teams Florida, Stony Brook and Denver) before a 6-1 run spanning March. The Wolverines picked up wins over Colorado, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Rutgers and Xavier in that stretch, with the only loss coming against Northwestern (the team’s first of three losses to the Wildcats in 2023). That stretch was crucial in keeping Michigan eligible for the NCAA tournament, as it ended its regular season 1-2. Michigan’s calling card was once again its defense, a unit that finished No. 17 nationally by allowing 9.35 goals per game.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Michigan’s offense struggled overall, ranking 67th nationally by scoring just 11.6 goals per game, despite a breakout season from sophomore Jill Smith (65 goals). Broken down, that was just 10 goals per game during Big Ten regular season play. When factoring in the Big Ten tournament and an NCAA tournament loss to Northwestern, Michigan scored 10.2 goals per game against Big Ten foes overall.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Despite the struggles during parts of 2023, Michigan still made the NCAA tournament a won a first-round game against Central Michigan. And perhaps it isn’t a highlight, but Michigan made things very difficult for Northwestern in the second round. The Wildcats won, but it was only 8-7.

VERDICT

The Big Ten is always going to be tough with the likes of Northwestern and Maryland lurking at the top, but a muddled middle of the conference that features Johns Hopkins, Penn State, Rutgers and Michigan is going to result in some records that fall pretty close to .500. But the fact that Michigan won an NCAA tournament game and nearly took out the eventual national champion in round two makes 2023 a success.