Box Score ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Handing the Wolverines its first loss of the season, the Harvard men's lacrosse team (3-1) toppled No. 13 Michigan (7-1), 14-9, on the road today. With the win, the Crimson moved to 3-1 on the season, while the Wolverines dropped to 7-1.
 
Three Crimson players recorded hat tricks today, including Hayden Cheek, Owen Gaffney and Sam King. Nick Loring and Miles Botkiss each added two, while Austin Madronic chipped in one. Steven Cuccurullo led the way with five groundballs, while Ray Dearth, Greg Campisi and Chase Strupp each tallied three. Dearth added a team-best two caused turnovers as well. In net, Kyle Mullin made 12 saves to register a .571 save percentage.
 
Despite three early scoring chances for the Crimson, strong defense on both ends kept Harvard and Michigan off the board for the first five minutes of play. The Wolverines broke through midway through the quarter to make it 1-0, before Hayden Cheek put in a behind-the-back strike to level the score. After Michigan found the back of the net once more, Cheek and Miles Botkiss notched back-to-back goals to give Harvard the lead at 3-2 to end the opening frame.
 
Owen Gaffney and Nick Loring kicked off scoring early for the Crimson in quarter two to make it a 4-0 run for Harvard. Holding Michigan to just two shots on goal until the six minute-mark, the Wolverines capitalized on a man-up opportunity to make it a 5-3 game. Sam King put the Crimson ahead by three late in the quarter, while Michigan added one more to close the frame with Harvard leading 6-3.
 
Michigan started the third quarter with a man-up tally to make it a one-goal game. Loring and King restored Harvard's three-goal lead with two consecutive goals, before Botkiss posted his second of the game to give the Crimson its largest lead of the day at 9-5. After Michigan added its sixth goal, Austin Madronic made it a 10-6 Harvard advantage heading into the final period.
 
Cheek registered a hat trick to widen Harvard's margin to five to open the fourth quarter. Adding another hat trick, Gaffney recorded the first of his career with back-to-back goals to give the Crimson a 13-7 lead. Michigan posted two consecutive goals to cut its deficit to four late in the quarter. Holding the Wolverines at bay for the remainder of the quarter, coupled with an empty net goal from King, sealed a 14-9 win for Harvard.
 
Harvard Highlights
- The win marks Harvard's first win over a ranked opponent this season and the program's second under Gerry Byrne's leadership.
- Three Crimson players recorded hat tricks today, including Hayden Cheek, Owen Gaffney and Sam King.
- Nick Loring led Harvard's offensive efforts with seven points off two goals and five assists.
- Steven Cuccurullo won nine face-offs at the X.
- Harvard won the groundball battle 28-27 and caused nine turnovers compared to Michigan's eight.
- The Crimson went 16-for-20 on clears. 

Up Next
Harvard will return home for its Ivy League opener, hosting Brown on Saturday, March 19. The game is slated for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
The remaining eight games of the Crimson's 2022 schedule, including all five home contests at Jordan Field, will also be aired on ESPN+. To purchase tickets, visit tickets.gocrimson.com.