U-M takes down Notre Dame for first-ever NCAA quarterfinals berth

With 26 seconds left, Michigan women’s lacrosse had a clear shot at program history.

Just 5 seconds earlier, the Wolverines’ shot at advancing to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals for the first time had seemingly been vaporized by 7-seed Notre Dame’s goal to tie it up at 14-all.

But Jill Smith wasn’t going to allow that. U-M’s leading scorer this season, with 52 goals and 14 assists, immediately won the draw and coach Hannah Nielsen called a timeout. When play resumed, and the seconds ticked down, there was no doubt who would have the final shot.

Smith took the pass from Josie Gooch and, with 1 second remaining, fired a shot from 7 meters out past Notre Dame goalie Lilly Callahan.

Goal. History.

Michigan upset Notre Dame, 15-14, in South Bend, Indiana, for the program’s first quarterfinal berth. The Wolverines will face second-seeded Boston College next weekend, with a spot in the national semifinals — set for Cary, North Carolina, on May 24 — on the line.

Smith finished with three goals on six shots on goal, and Katharine Merrifield led the Wolverines (16-3) with four goals, while U-M goalie Erin O’Grady had 10 saves on 24 shots faced. Madison Ahern and Kasey Choma had three goals apiece for the Fighting Irish and Jackie Wolak added two goals and five assists.

Earlier on Sunday, U-M even having a shot in the final seconds had seemed improbable at best. The Fighting Irish opened with three goals before the first period was halfway through. But the Wolverines rallied with three goals of their own, with Merrifield opening the attack with 5:05 left in the first, Annabelle Burke scoring just 72 seconds later and Jane Fetterolf getting the equalizer with 55 seconds left in the frame.

In the second quarter, Notre Dame again racked up three goals in a row, and Merrifield orchestrated another threespot for U-M, though the Irish snuck in another goal to maintain the lead going into the half.

The second half was much the same: A Michigan tying goal, followed by a Notre Dame score to take the lead. A 3:01 burst to end the third quarter and open the first flipped it, however, as Fetterolf closed the third with a score with 1 second left, Merrifield scored 64 seconds into the fourth and Julia Schwabe netted a score on a penalty shot with 12 minutes remaining for Michigan’s first lead, 12-11.

Now it was the Irish’s turn to tie, and the Wolverines’ chance to push the lead: A N.D. goal, and then Smith made it 13-12; another N.D. goal and Gooch’s penalty shot with 5:12 made it 14-13; and then, finally, Taylor Cullen committed a foul, setting up Notre Dame’s Wolak for her 56th goal of the season — and, eventually, setting up Smith for her winner.