The Wolverine

March 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MARCH 2018 THE WOLVERINE 89   OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE "It sounds cliché, but we really just focus on putting our absolute best foot forward every day. We let the results take care of themselves, and it's been a successful mindset for us the past couple of years." Top Athlete: Junior Elodie Van Dievoet's 73.09 scoring average in 2016‑17 was a U‑M single‑season re‑ cord, and she earned first‑team All‑ Big Ten honors and was tabbed as a second‑team All‑American by the Women's Golf Coaches Association. "Elodie was actually our first All‑ American in program history last year," Dowling said. "She had some really nice rounds this past fall, but wants to put a whole tournament together. "Nobody has higher expectations for Elodie than she does for herself." Athlete To Watch: Senior Emily White won U‑M's Most Improved Award in 2016 and was one of four Wolverines to start all four events in 2016‑17. "Emily — along with the rest of the senior class — wants to go out with a bang," Dowling said. "She came in three and a half years ago when we were ranked pretty low, but helped us to two national championships, and we've only had three total in program history." Don't Miss: April 6‑8 at the Bryan National Collegiate in Greensboro, N.C. The event will mark Michigan's final regular‑season affair before Big Ten Championships April 20‑22. MEN'S LACROSSE First Event: Feb. 10 vs. Cleveland State (Won 15‑5) Big Ten Predicted Finish: Fourth NCAA Best-Case Scenario: First round Coach's Expectations: "We want to be the best we can be in every game," head coach Kevin Conry said. "We go into every game prepared and ready to win. Our real goal is just to continue to get better. "We need to trust the process and make sure we're the best Wolverine team we can be." Top Athlete: Junior attacker Brent Noseworthy had quite the season in 2017, winning Team Offensive MVP honors, while setting a new program record for goals in a year with 37. "Brent has really rounded up his game to be more of a complete player," Conry said. "He's done some nice things early on for us here in 2018 as well." Athlete To Watch: Freshman at‑ tacker Kevin Mack came to Michigan ranked No. 41 in the Inside Lacrosse Power 100, and recorded his first two career points in just his second colle‑ giate game against Bellarmine Feb. 13. "As soon as the game comes to him and slows down a bit, he can be a real difference maker for us," Conry said. "Kevin might not be showing up in the stat sheet right now for us, but that's alright — his role isn't about goals and assists, but instead creat‑ ing, drawing and dumping." Don't Miss: March 31 against Mary‑ land and April 14 at Ohio State. The Terrapins defeated the Buckeyes in last year's national championship game, so U‑M will have a chance to knock off each of last year's title game partici‑ pants. The contest with the Terrapins will be televised nationally by BTN. WOMEN'S LACROSSE First Event: Feb. 9 vs. Colorado in Jacksonville, Fla. (Lost 20‑10) Big Ten Predicted Finish: Fifth NCAA Best-Case Scenario: First round Coach's Expectations: "We want to get better every day," head coach Hannah Nielsen said. "We're always looking for ways we can improve. "We didn't get off to the start we wanted this season, but there is a lot to take from it and several learning points. The only option for us is to go up." Top Athlete: Sophomore mid‑ fielder Molly Garrett started nine games last year as a freshman and tallied four goals, and will look to improve as a sophomore in 2018. "Molly Garrett is someone we have high expectations for," Nielsen said. "She's just an amazing athlete across the board — she could probably pick up any sport and be good at it." Athlete To Watch: Sophomore mid‑ fielder Chandler Kirby had a solid campaign as a freshman last year, playing in all 17 games with four goals, six assists and five ground balls. "Chandler has stepped up and is playing very well so far this year," Nielsen said. "We've seen some per‑ formances from girls in games that we haven't seen in practice, and she's been one of them." Don't Miss: March 17 vs. Ohio State. The Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes last season for their first conference win in school history. This year's matchup could take on added significance, due to it being the Big Ten opener for both teams. SOFTBALL First Event: Feb. 9‑11 at USF Wil‑ son‑Demarini Tournament in Tampa, Fla. (Defeated UAB 7‑0, topped Geor‑ gia State 8‑0, lost to Florida 2‑0, lost to South Florida 3‑2 and beat Illinois State 6‑1) Big Ten Predicted Finish: First NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Na‑ tional champions Coach's Expectations: "I just expect Junior Elodie Van Dievoet became the first All-American in program history last year, earning second-team honors from the Women's Golf Coaches Association. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Last year, junior second baseman Faith Canfield batted .398 with nine home runs and 40 RBI. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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