Michigan Release(d) Their 2017 Schedule

So in between Eri’s Marquette schedule preview and myself taking over with four teams, it seems like we forgot one schedule. That was Michigan. S/o to reader “sullivti” for the heads up in our Master Schedule List to alert us about the Wolverines. So without further ado, let’s dive into this schedule that’s been out for some time.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Michigan will host two scrimmages before the start of the season, as they’ll take on defending Big East champion Marquette on January 21 followed by Division III Denison on the 28th. They start the regular season away from home, which they’ll be a ton early in the season, as they take on Cleveland State in the Vikings’ first ever game on February 4. The home opener is against Lafayette on February 11 inside Oosterbaan Field House. That’ll be the only scheduled game inside Oosterbaan, as they’ll be on the road for the next five games, spanning nearly a month. They’ll stay in Michigan as the Wolverines will play in-state foe Detroit Mercy in Pontiac on the 15th. Last year’s game was cancelled due to inclement weather and wasn’t made up. This is probably the make up. The team then travels to Louisville, Kentucky to take on Bellarmine on the 18th, followed by a trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame on the 25th.

The Wolverines begin March in Macon, Georgia to take on the Mercer Bears on the first day of the month. They end their five-game road trip against Furman on March 4. Five of Michigan’s last seven games will be at Michigan Stadium, beginning on March 11 against Penn. Last year at Franklin Field, the Quakers edged the Wolverines, 12-10, back in February. The nonconference finale is at home against UMBC on March 25.

The Big Ten slate of opponents is the same as last year, except Michigan will play at home three times instead of two last year. They’ll start Big Ten play April 1 in College Park against the Maryland Terrapins, who won the Big Ten Tournament last season. The Wolverines host Rutgers April 8, followed by archrival Ohio State April 15. Michigan travels to Baltimore to take on Johns Hopkins on the 22nd, followed by the regular season finale at home against Penn State on the 29th.

After starting last season 3-2, the Wolverines lost their final eight games, including all five Big Ten contests. Michigan hopes for a big rebound season, one that many people have been expecting for a few seasons. They have a vastly different nonconference slate, as Penn is the only carryover that they played from last season.

The Wolverines bring back senior attackman Ian King and sophomore midfielder Decker Curran, who finished last season fourth on the team in goals and points. Sean McCanna, Mikie Schlosser, and Rocco Sutherland will also be looked upon to contribute in larger roles on offense. On defense, Stefen Bergman, Andrew Hatton, MJ Melillo, and Virginia graduate transfer Dickson Smith will be relied as poles on defense, while Nick DeCaprio will be important as an LSM. Chase Young, Christian Wolter, and Parker McKee are expected to improve as defensive midfielders. Michael McDonnell was the number two face-off option last season after Brad Lott, but he could receive competition from Johns Hopkins transfer Jack Olson. With Gerald Logan leaving for Johns Hopkins, expect Robbie Zonino to be the number one goaltender, in front of Tommy Heidt, Gunner Garn, and freshman Matt Trowbridge.

To see every team’s schedule and which one’s we’ve highlighted, check our our master schedule list.