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Michigan women's lacrosse player Jill Smith

Smith's Fourth-Quarter Heroics Keep Michigan Unbeaten

February 27, 2024
Matt DaSilva
Michigan Athletics

Michigan needed some magic. Jill Smith delivered.

Smith scored four of her game-high six goals in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner with 1:20 remaining to lift the fifth-ranked Wolverines to a 10-9 comeback win Tuesday at Arizona State.

Michigan trailed much of the game and was down 9-7 with less than four minutes left. But Smith and Jane Fetterolf scored 49 seconds apart and then Smith punctuated the comeback with an unassisted goal. Goalie Erin O'Grady made two shorthanded stops in the last 10 seconds to seal the win.

Smith also had player-up and shorthanded goals earlier in the quarter. The All-American attacker is shooting 57 percent this season and leads the Wolverines with 17 goals through five games.

The nine goals were the most Michigan has allowed this season. The Wolverines (5-0) came into the game having allowed just 12 goals in their four previous contests. After venturing both east and west, their next three games are at home.

Also Tuesday:

  • Lauren Drillock scored five goals and Tori Cinin made a career-high 17 saves to lead Holy Cross to a 12-10 victory at UMass — the Crusaders’ first win in the series since 2009. Holy Cross scored the first four goals and prevailed despite being outshot 37-26 and winning just three of 25 draws.
  • Rider keeps winning. The Broncs improved to 4-0 in their inaugural season, defeating Monmouth 12-10 at home. FDU-Florham transfer Katie Walsh was one of five players to score two goals and gave Rider a decisive possession advantage with 11 draw controls. “I want to go out there and prove them wrong,” said Walsh, a Division III All-American. “No matter how many times they say D3, the division doesn't matter.”
  • Katie DeSimone and Caroline DeBellis scored five goals apiece, as Duke rebounded from a lopsided loss to Clemson with a 16-13 road victory over Liberty.