No. 9 Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse upsets No. 5 Michigan, 13-6

Q: What was the final score of the Johns Hopkins vs. Michigan women's lacrosse game?

The final score was 13-6 in favor of Johns Hopkins.

Q: Who were the standout players in the Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse upset over Michigan?

Lacey Downey, who scored five goals and had two assists, and Reagan O’Brien, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, were standout players.

Q: What impact did the win against Michigan have on Johns Hopkins' Big Ten standings?

The win moved Johns Hopkins to third place in the Big Ten standings and kept their hopes alive for a share of the conference's regular-season championship.

Q: How many goals has Ava Angello scored in her career at Johns Hopkins?

Ava Angello is only the second player in school history to surpass 200 career goals.

Among the Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse players, Reagan O’Brien, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Ava Angello, only the second player in school history to eclipse the 200-goal mark for a career, draw generous amounts of attention.

Lacey Downey is beginning to make a name for herself.

The junior midfielder continued to reinforce her reputation as an emerging star by racking up five goals and two assists to power the No. 9 Blue Jays to a 13-6 upset victory over No. 5 Michigan on Sunday afternoon before an announced 340 at Homewood Field in Baltimore.

Johns Hopkins (12-3, 5-2 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of third place in the league and maintained an outside shot at earning a share of the conference’s regular-season championship depending on how No. 1 Maryland (13-1, 5-1) and No. 4 Northwestern (10-3, 4-1) fare the rest of the way. After setbacks of 15-12 to the Terps on March 26 and 16-12 to the Wildcats on March 29, Sunday’s win against the Wolverines was a welcome development.

And Downey played a significant role in the outcome. She had a hand in four of the Blue Jays’ first five goals with three goals and an assist.

Downey added a second assist on senior attacker Ava Angello’s goal, which was Johns Hopkins’ first of the second half. And when Michigan opened the fourth quarter with two goals to draw within 10-6 and threaten to give some life to a comeback attempt, Downey scored twice in 41 seconds to shut the door on the Wolverines.

Ensuring the Blue Jays were not on the wrong end was important to Downey.

“I did not want to lose,” she said. “I felt like we needed something, and if I was that person, that’s fine. We needed some goals.”

Downey’s second assist gave her 65 for her career, which ranks seventh in program history and further extends her school record for most helpers by a midfielder. She entered the game with 33 assists, which led all Division I midfielders, but did not seem to care about the achievement.

“I don’t really look at points,” she said. “Whatever happens, happens. We’re working as a team. So if it happens for me to get a couple points or a couple goals, then so be it. But I didn’t expect any of this. We trained hard in the fall, and I’m just happy the team is doing well.”

Downey’s growth as a player has multiplied, according to coach Tim McCormack. Before her second goal in the fourth quarter, McCormack advised Downey to slow the tempo, but recognizing that the Wolverines were pressing, she pounced and scored.

“Lately, she’s been playing just with such house money,” McCormack said. “She’s flying around, she’s enjoying herself, she’s not pressing, letting things come to her, which is opening up everything else.”

Downey’s success was foretold early. She was the No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2023 and was recruited by Atlantic Coast Conference powers Boston College and Syracuse before she chose the Eagles.

But Downey spent just one season at Boston College before deciding to transfer. She said she selected Johns Hopkins because of her relationship with McCormack.

“I think everything happened for a reason,” she said. “I think it was meant for me to go there for a year. I think it was meant for me to come here.”

With 76 points on 41 goals and 35 assists, Downey ranks second on the team in points behind Angello’s 77. Wolverines coach Hannah Nielsen said Angello and Downey fuel a diverse offense for Johns Hopkins.

“I think she had a good season last year, and I think she’s been having a great year this year,” she said of Downey. “She’s [a] two-way middie, which is great for them, but they’ve got multiple threats. They’ve got a very balanced unit here where if you’re focusing on them, then someone else is going to step up.”

In addition to her goals and assists, Downey had four caused turnovers, three ground balls and two draw controls. But two turnovers prevented her from feeling fully satisfied.

“I would definitely call myself a harsh critic,” she said. “So even one turnover, all I really care about is the turnovers I have. When I’m flowing, though, I definitely would say it comes a little more easily. Once I get one, the rest are kind of easier.”

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