DENVER - The University of Denver women's lacrosse upset the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines, 13-11, in a back-and-forth game at Peter Barton Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The win marks the highest ranked opponent the Pioneers have defeated on their home turf. 

Denver jumped out to an early 3-0 lead off of a goal by Lauren Black and a pair Olivia Ripple less than five minutes into the first quarter. The Wolverines got one back off a free position goal by Calli Norris. Black responded with her second goal of the game to extend the DU lead to 4-1 after the first quarter. 

The Pioneers and Wolverines traded goals in the second quarter but Emelia Bohi and the hot pink defense came up with crucial stops to take a 7-5 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Michigan tied the game at seven with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Freshman attacker Eva Thomsen-Marr cashed in on the following free position opportunity to give Denver the 8-7 advantage, but chaos on a failed Denver clear gave Michigan the tying goal as the buzzer sounded to end the third frame. 

The Wolverines earned their first lead of the game, taking an 9-8 advantage at the 14 minute mark. Both teams traded blows early in the fourth. The Pioneer defense stifled Michigan, allowing only four shots and causing four turnovers in the final 10 minutes of play. On the offensive end, Ryan Dineen scored the go-ahead goal off an assist from Thomsen-Marr, followed by Thomsen-Marr scoring a goal of her own and Black scoring her fourth of the day giving the Pioneers an 13-11 lead with just under three minutes remaining.

Bohi secured the win for the Pioneers, recording her eighth save of the day on a free position shot by Jill Smith with 2:36 remaining to play, to give Denver the 11-13 win against the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines. 

KEY PERFORMANCES:

Black led the offensive effort with 6 points in 5 goals and an assist. Ripple added three goals and a helper of her own. 

On the defensive end, freshman defender Megan Morneau had a career-high four ground balls and added a caused turnover. Junior defender Landry Grover added a trio of caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls. Bohi made a eight saves between the pipes. 

Alex Dorr led the draw unit with six wins in the circle.

NOTES

• The victory marked the highest ranked home win for the Pioneers in program history.
• Denver's upset win was the first victory over a top-5 opponent since March 16, 2023 against then No. 4 Boston College, and the program's 10th win over a top-10 opponent. 
• The Pioneers 13 goals is the most that the eighth ranked Michigan defense has allowed all season.
• DU's hot pink defense held the Wolverines to 10 goals, five below their season average. 

UP NEXT:
The Pioneers return to action on Sunday against the Fairfield Stags at 11 a.m. MT at Peter Barton Stadium.