CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Jeff Cohen amassed a career-best eight points, scoring seven times and assisting on another tally, as he helped the Harvard men’s lacrosse team defeated Michigan by a score of 11-7 Saturday afternoon at Harvard Stadium.
Cohen’s seven goals also mark a career-high, as the senior moved to within two goals of the Harvard all-time career record, held by David Bohn ’60. Cohen’s seven goals against the Wolverines were also two short of the program record for goals in a game (nine), held by four players.
With the win, Harvard improves to 5-4 on the season and 4-1 at home, while the Wolverines fall to 1-9 overall on the spring.
Eipp added two goals and two assists for four points for the Crimson, which outshot Michigan, 40-32. Sean Mahon won six faceoffs, while Christian Coates (two saves) and Jake Gambitsky (10 saves) combined in net for the victory. Michigan goalie Emil Weiss finished with 13 saves.
After Michigan led, 1-0, for much of the first quarter, Cohen knotted the game, 1-1, with an unassisted tally at 5:37. Cohen then put Harvard on top, 2-1, with a goal off a pass by Will Walker at 5:07. With 3:36 left in the first, Eipp gave the Crimson a two-goal cushion, as Harvard enjoyed a 3-0 run, 3-1.
With 1:27 remaining in the opening stanza, Cohen found Terry White for another Harvard tally, and then Eipp followed with a score off a pass from Sean Mahon at the 1:13 mark, making it a 5-1 contest.
In the second quarter, Cohen completed his hat trick with his third score at 13:42, as the Crimson increased the scoring run to 6-0. With 1:34 left in the half, Cohen scored again, his fourth of the game, with an assist by Eipp, as the Crimson led, 7-2. At the break, Harvard held an edge in ground balls, 14-12, and shots, 23-12.
After Michigan cut Harvard’s lead to 7-3, the Wolverines got closer with another tally at the 11:09 mark, making it a 7-4 contest. With 9:28 left in the third frame, Kevin Vaughan slipped a pass in front of the cage, and Cohen finished with his fifth goal of the game, as the Crimson upped its lead to 8-4.
With 8:12 remaining, Cohen struck again, as Eipp assisted on a goal to Cohen for his sixth tally, increasing Harvard’s advantage to 9-4. Less than 30 seconds later, Cohen tallied his seventh score off a pass by Will Walker, making it a 10-4 game at the 7:48 mark.
In the fourth, Ryan Stevens snapped a 2-0 run for the Wolverines, making it an 11-6 contest in favor of the Crimson.
Harvard and Michigan both finished 15-of-19 on clear attempts, and both teams scored two man-up goalies, with the Crimson finishing 2-of-2. The Wolverines owned the edge in faceoffs, 12-10, and ground balls, 30-25.
Harvard will head back to Ivy League play to visit No 4/5 Cornell Saturday at 1 p.m.
