Perhaps the best explanation for Michigan’s impressive play in its first two games is that it actually had something resembling a preseason this year.
Just about every program has a tale of how the pandemic impacted things. The course of the Wolverines’ development, both in 2020 and 2021, is significant even by the usual standards.
Coach Kevin Conry was committed to playing plenty of underclassmen two seasons ago, but that team never got to Big Ten play when the season was canceled. The offseason wasn’t much better, with Michigan’s limited weight room work halted by October 2020 and no fall ball of any kind.
Toss in a school-wide shutdown last January, and the Wolverines were left with about 10 days to get ready for a Big Ten-only slate. First up was a trip to Maryland. Hardly ideal.
“It's about connectivity,” Conry said. “When you have all that time together, your guys are allowed to bond. They’re allowed to be together. They’re allowed to grow together. I think that’s the biggest difference for us this year.”
The Wolverines handled Bellarmine 22-13 in their opener, then blasted Detroit Mercy 21-5. Up next is Saturday’s visit from Holy Cross.
There was a hint of a potential breakout last season, even if Michigan’s 3-9 record obscured it a bit. After needing the first few weeks of the season to get into shape, the Wolverines beat Penn State to finish the first half of the regular season with a victory.
They later earned their first victory ever over Johns Hopkins, lost one-goal games to Penn State and Rutgers and won at Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. All the while, a bunch of young players without conference experience received plenty of it.
That helps explain the early scoring burst from junior Josh Zawada, who set a program record with 10 points in the opener and then added 11 against Detroit. Unsurprisingly, his 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) leads the country on a per-game basis. Sophomore Michael Boehm has nine goals and five assists in his first two games.
“[Zawada] has been doing a great job for us, kind of quarterbacking the offense,” Conry said. “Mike kind of puts it all together. He’s the guy who communicates a lot of what we’re doing, and he’s kind of the glue that puts the offense together.”
Meanwhile in the cage, sophomore Shane Carr has emerged after backing up John Kiracofe last season to earn a starting role. He is second nationally in goals-against average (6.18), and Conry raves about his explosive hands and ability to steal some saves.
It’s hardly powered by just a few notable names. Ryan Cohen (five goals, five assists) has filled in for Bryce Clay on attack. The Michigan staff is pleased with how sophomore defenseman Jack Whitney is developing, and senior Zach Johnson is now starting on close defense after coming to Ann Arbor as a midfielder.
There are also multiple encouraging signs on faceoffs. Nick Rowlett is 30 of 45 (66.7 percent) on his attempts, while Justin Wietfeldt is 12 of 15 (80 percent). A year ago, Rowlett took 320 draws, the seventh-most in Division I, while the rest of the Wolverines combined for 26.
Not only do the Wolverines have a normal rhythm this season, they also have a full non-conference schedule to navigate prior to league play. Michigan plays seven of its first eight at home and won’t leave the Midwest until its March 26 conference opener at Johns Hopkins.
It’s a chance to continue building, but Conry knows nothing is assured, even with the encouraging signs he sees.
“It’s still cold, and we’re still playing in the elements, so it’s the ultimate equalizer,” Conry said of the opening five-game homestand. “We can be playing the No. 1 team in the country or the number whatever team in the country. These are all Division I rosters and really well-coached and great players, so everybody brings something different to the table. When you look at how we’re playing right now, we’ve been fortunate to build some confidence through two games.”