Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
4-3
Michigan
6-2
No. 14 Buffs Fall Short at No. 8 Michigan
March 08, 2026 | Lacrosse
Lily Assini scores 50th career goal
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 14 Colorado erased a two-goal halftime deficit with a strong third-quarter performance at No. 8 Michigan, but the Buffaloes couldn't maintain the momentum, falling 8-7 to the Wolverines on Sunday.
The Buffs went on a 4-0 run and jumped to a 7-5 lead by the end of the third quarter. Michigan shutout Colorado in the final 15 minutes and scored three unanswered goals to escape with the win on its home turf.
"I'm proud of the team for the third quarter," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden expressed after the loss. "I think we challenged them a little bit at halftime, and they responded. [It was] probably the best third quarter we've had all year. Then we just weren't able to get it done in the fourth. We just have to do better at executing in possessions. We have to do better at valuing possessions."
Colorado (4-2), playing its third straight ranked opponent on the road, had four players account for the seven goals. Maddie Shoup, Lily Assini and Teagan Ryan each scored a pair, while Rachel Kennedy picked up her first goal in three games. Both of Assini's goals came in the four-goal third quarter, recording her 50th and 51st career tallies.
The CU defense was active all through the day, forcing 23 Wolverine turnovers and picking up a season-high 20 ground balls. Colorado has forced 20 or more turnovers in three games this season.
"All week we talked about the team that could handle the adversity better, the team that could be a little more disciplined would come out on top," Whidden added. "I don't think that's how we entered the game. I think we entered the game a little rushed on our end, not taking control of things that we could have taken control of and putting ourselves in a tough spot."
Michigan (5-2) had a pair of hat tricks from Calli Norris and Ava Class. The Wolverines held the advantage throughout the day in the draw circle, besting CU 13-5.
"Obviously, the draws were a battle and a struggle for us," Whiddend admitted. "I think we've had that all year. We have had that at many junctures. It's been maybe only one game we actually won the draw controls. I think for us, it obviously puts us in a position where possession matters, and you have to make that up in other ways. Defensively, we're able to get stops; we can't turn the ball over in the clear. We didn't do a great job of that today. I think we put ourselves in a spot [to win] despite the draw controls to be in that game."
How it happened
For just the second time this season, the Buffs conceded the first goal. Class opened the scoring just over 70 seconds into the game. Colorado was aggressive on the attack early, outshooting Michigan 5-3 in the quarter with four shots on target. But Kennedy's goal at 11:38 would prove to be Colorado's lone score of the period.
Shoup's first goal of the day tied the game at 2-2 with 12:09 to play in the half. The Wolverines got back-to-back scores from Norris and Class to jump in front, 4-2, at the 10:28 mark. Ryan put an end to the UM run with her first score of the day, bringing the Buffs back to within one, 4-3, at the 5:42 mark.
Emma Bradbury added one more for Michigan to take a 5-3 lead at the half, despite UM turning the ball over 14 times and CU outshooting the Wolverines 11-8 in the first 30 minutes. Michigan countered with a 7-3 lead in the first-half draws.
Assini opened the scoring in the second half with her eighth of the season and 50thof her career. The Buffs tied the game at 5-5 with Shoup's second goal with 8:37 to play, and Ryan gave CU its first lead of the day, 6-5, with six minutes on the clock. Assini added her second tally of the quarter to close a 4-0 run for the Buffs and take a 7-5 lead into the final frame.
Colorado outshot Michigan 7-1 in the third quarter and held the Wolverines without a shot on goal. CU was 100% on its clear attempts in the period, and forced four Michigan turnovers to help leap the Wolverines.
"We take a lot of pride in our defensive work," Whidden explained. "I think on the offensive side, we have to take pride that we have seven people on the field that are capable of working and putting the pressure on. We have to take pride in making the defense work and then getting good quality opportunities that we can execute."
Michigan turned the tide on the Buffs in the fourth quarter, scoring three unanswered goals in the final 15. Elizabeth Johnson made three of her 10 saves in the period, and the Wolverines won all three draw controls.
Peyton Shreves picked up the game-winner with 3:06 to play, but the Buffs were still able to threaten late in the game. CU got the ball in behind the Michigan net, looking to set up the offense, but a centering pass to the front of the net was deflected and corralled by Michigan with under 30 seconds to go, killing off the chance.
"I think we're looking for things to come a little easier than they're going to be in games like this," Whidden said. "Michigan is a great defensive team. This was going to be a defensive battle. We had to find a way to make a couple more plays down that stretch. Things just didn't go our way."
Up Next
The Buffs will return home to closeout the non-conference season. CU will host Stetson on Mar. 15 and UConn on Mar. 18, before diving into Big 12 play on Mar. 28 against San Diego State.
Notes
Colorado falls to 3-6 all-time against Michigan and has lost the last six…Assini became the 19th player in CU history to record 50 career goals…She now has a point in CU's last 22 games and a goal in 13 consecutive games…Shoup pushed her goal-scoring streak to 17 straight games…She has now scored two or more goals five times this season…Ryan continues to lead CU in goals this season with 15…Elena Oh led the Buffs with four ground balls…Lola Flynn led CU with a career-high three caused turnovers.
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