NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: No. 3 Michigan Primed for an Encore

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 3 Michigan, a team seeking to be 10 percent better just about everywhere.

The list of notable departures for much of the USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20 is extensive. Preseason interviews have been an exercise in asking coaches how they will replace key players X, Y and Z.

Michigan is a noteworthy exception.

The Wolverines bring back 79 percent of their goals and starting goalie Erin O’Grady, who finished the year second in Division I in save percentage (.549).

It comes a year after Michigan produced its best season in program history. The Wolverines won 16 games, including seven over ranked opponents, finished first in Division I in scoring defense (7.55 goals allowed per game), and scored 248 goals — the second most in a single season for Michigan.

With so much returning — and other teams, including conference rivals Penn State and Northwestern, losing significant pieces — the Wolverines are primed for at least an encore. But they’re looking to become a notable exception in another regard: Winning a Big Ten long dominated by the Wildcats and Maryland.

TOP RETURNERS

Erin O’Grady, G, Sr. (7.34 GAA, .549SV%) 
Jill Smith, A, Sr. (57G, 14A, 66DC) 
Kaylee Dyer, A, Sr. (50G 19A)

O’Grady, our Preseason Goalie of the Year, headlines a list of talented returners. Hannah Nielsen says she starts 2025 healthy after “playing on one leg for a long time” last year. Those words should strike fear into opposing offenses. O’Grady produced the best season by a goalie on that one leg.

Jill Smith, a do-it-all attacker who memorably put Michigan into the second round of the NCAA tournament on a buzzer-beater against Notre Dame, has also managed to level up. Nielsen said Smith has long displayed a natural talent, but spending more time in the gym and with a stick in her hand in the offseason has seen her get stronger and fitter. Ditto for Kaylee Dyer. While Smith (deservedly) gets plenty of flowers, Nielsen pointed out that Dyer had a similar offensive output last year. 

KEY ADDITIONS

Caroline Byrd, Fr., A (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Olivia Perriello, Fr., M (Rye, N.Y.)
Madeline Jensen, Fr., G (Clarendon Hills, Ill.)

With so much depth, cracking this year’s starting lineup and regular rotation is a tall task. However, crease attacker Caroline Byrd appeared up for it in the fall. Nielsen called Byrd the “most natural feeder” and said she has the “best chance” of making an impact as a freshman since Dyer during her rookie campaign. Byrd’s services are needed, with assists leader Caroline Davis (26A) one of the few holes to fill. Olivia Perriello could also see minutes, while Madeline Jensen could become a primary backup for O’Grady, who is slated to turn her tassel in May.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Maddie Burns, D; Annabelle Burke, M; Caroline Davis, A; Josie Gooch, M; Lily Montemarano, A

X-FACTOR

Julia Schwabe, M, Sr. (20G, 9A, 11GB, 6CT)

Nielsen wasn’t knocking Schwabe when she said she doesn’t do anything “really, really, really well” (yes, really three times). Instead, she feels she does a little of a lot: goals, assists, draws, caused turnovers. You name it, Schwabe can do it.

“It’s never flashing, but she always comes up big,” Nielsen said, citing her two-goal, one-assist performance in a loss to Northwestern in April. “Offensively, she’s a huge cutting threat … because of her basketball, but she has a good amount of feeds. Defensively, she’s just solid. She’s two-way, end-to-end and sometimes in the draw circle.”

Circle play is especially key for the Wolverines, who lost 169 of 263 (Lily Montemarano accounted for 114) draw controls. Schwabe’s contributions to the draw could take the pressure off Smith to carry that load alone.

THE NARRATIVE  

Michigan is one of the most well-known commodities in Division I entering the 2025 season. Beyond the draw, the most significant loss is Maddie Burns on defense. However, Nielsen pointed to returners, including Taylor Cullen (“fast, athletic and strong”) and Grace Callahan as stalwarts set to hold down the fort in front of O’Grady.

That said, while Northwestern, Maryland and last season’s conference tournament runner-up Penn State indeed graduated key parts, you can never count any of these programs out. Johns Hopkins, which knocked the Wolverines out of the Big Ten tournament in an overtime quarterfinal bout, also brings back several starters. The Big Ten won’t be a cakewalk — it never is.

Perhaps the most significant X factor for the Wolverines is a sour taste from late postseason losses.

“We lost some tough ones,” Nielsen said. “We had a couple of nailbiters and losses we’d like back. We’ve been focusing on doing everything just 10 percent better. It’s about focusing on the little things, like consistency in our work ethic and attention to detail. We need to limit a couple more turnovers, increase our shooting percentage a little bit, make a couple more saves and get a couple more draws, and we’ll be where we need to be.”

On paper, the Wolverines look well on their way.