CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 12/12 Harvard men's lacrosse team made it happen when it mattered most this afternoon, using three key fourth-quarter goals to earn a 14-11 victory over the visiting RV/20 Michigan Wolverines. The Crimson (4-1, 0-0 Ivy) scored some flashy goals and played tight defensively on its way to its third consecutive victory. Senior attack
Sam King scored six goals and first-year goalkeeper
Graham Stevens made several clutch stops down the stretch to propel the Crimson to the result.
How it Happened
Harvard welcomed in the nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines to Jordan Field this afternoon to renew their budding rivalry on a windy day on the banks of the Charles River. Playing in the second of a three-game home stretch, the Crimson was looking to head into Ivy League play next week with another ranked victory under its belt.
Stout goalie play from
Graham Stevens highlighted the first quarter for the Crimson, with the first-year making five total saves - and three in the opening four minutes - to hold off the Wolverine attack. Despite the strong presence from Stevens, it was Michigan who put a tally up on the scoreboard first, getting the game's first goal just under five minutes into the action.
Jack Speidell and
Sam King answered quickly for the Crimson, taking back the lead for Harvard with back-to-back goals.
Miles Botkiss and
Jack Speidell connected later in the quarter - for the first of many highlight reel goals for Harvard – to continue the Crimson run. Michigan cut into the lead with another tally before
Jack Speidell brought Jordan Field to its feet with an unbelievable behind-the-back strike to send the Crimson into the first quarter break up 4-2.
Another
Miles Botkiss strike came in between a pair of Michigan goals at the beginning of the second quarter, making the score 5-3 in favor of the Crimson. After the run, Harvard forced a Michigan turnover and capitalized with a four-goal scoring run to open a big lead heading into halftime. King notched another pair of goals to complete his first half hat-trick and
Joe Dowling and
John Aurandt IV each got on the scoresheet to help the Crimson effort. Aurandt's goal was another eye-popper, as the junior swim-dodged down the alley before unleashing a screaming behind-the-back shot into the cage. Michigan fought back with a goal at the end of the quarter, sending the teams into the halftime break with the score favoring Harvard at 9-5.
The sides traded goals to begin the second half, with
Logan Ip getting his first of the day to provide the Crimson tally. Michigan would then use a three-goal run to claw its way back into the game and make the score 10-9 with five minutes to go in the third. On the ensuing possession,
Joost de Koning caused a costly Michigan turnover to give Harvard possession that led to a timely King goal. The Wolverines got the last laugh in the third quarter, however, getting a goal back to head into the final quarter trailing by just one with the score now reading 11-10 in favor of the Crimson.
The defensive unit for the Crimson stepped up to begin the final frame, killing off a penalty to begin the quarter thanks to a caused turnover from
Jake Brownley. On the next two Michigan possessions,
Finn Jensen caused a turnover, and
Graham Stevens made a big save to once again stump the Wolverine attack. With seven minutes remaining in regulation, Michigan would finally get the goal it had been searching for to tie the game at 11 all.
When the Crimson needed him most,
Sam King stepped up to save the day. After the game-tying-goal from Michigan, the senior captain delivered a clutch go-ahead strike with five minutes remaining. After that, the defense took care of business, killing off a penalty on the ensuing possession thanks to another massive save from Stevens. The Wolverines briefly got possession back before Botkiss caused a turnover on the ride to put the ball back in Crimson possession.
Teddy Malone and King connected on the next possession to put the game on ice as King registered his sixth goal of the game to make the score 13-11. Malone added the exclamation point with his first goal of the day with just 14 seconds left. In the end, Harvard held on to claim a 14-11 result over the Michigan Wolverines, its third consecutive victory.
Harvard Highlights
- Sam King stuffed the stat sheet with six goals, five ground balls and two caused turnovers in a terrific all-around effort.
- Graham Stevens made 12 saves to pick up his fourth win of the year.
- 12 different players caused a turnover in the action, led by King and Martin Nelson who each had two.
- Jackson Henehan went 10-for-20 at the faceoff X
- Jack Speidell and Logan Ip each chipped in four points each.
- Harvard forced 22 Michigan turnovers and held the team to just 16-for-23 on the clear.
- The Crimson won the ground ball battle, beating Michigan 41-33 in the effort.
Up Next
Harvard will return to Jordan Field next week to close out a three-game homestand when it welcomes in the Yale Bulldogs for the Ivy League opener. The 107
th edition of the Harvard-Yale rivalry is set to begin at 1:00 PM in Boston with the game also set to air live on ESPN+.
