Michigan
Loyola Marymount
Wolverines Fall to Lions in NCAA Third-Place Contest
5/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Michigan water polo team was defeated by Loyola Marymount in the NCAA third-place game by a count of 6-4 on Sunday (May 12) at McDonald's Swim Stadium on the University of Southern California campus. The No. 12-ranked Wolverines (25-13) led early but could not overcome No. 7 (tie) LMU's three-goal flurry at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second. Led by Jen Crisman's (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS) two goals, Michigan remained close throughout the game but was never able to tie the score.
| | Crisman |
The Maize and Blue started the second frame the way they finished the first by taking a penalty to put LMU on the power play. The Lions were able to convert and take a 2-1 lead. On the Lions' very next possession, Lucy Wines beat Michigan on the right side of the net for her second goal of the game and a 3-1 LMU advantage. U-M was able to close the gap with 2:49 remaining in the half when Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) crossed the ball to Crisman for her second tally of the contest. LMU had a chance to regain its two-goal advantage in the final possession of the half when it went on the power play for the third time but Michigan kept the game close by blocking both of the Lions' shots and killing off the penalty to end the half. Michigan trailed 3-2 at the intermission.
The defense for both teams dominated the beginning of the third quarter but LMU struck again with a 6-on-5 goal with 1:24 left in the period. Casey Kerney (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park HS) answered back for the Wolverines 17 seconds later. Kerney was fouled outside the seven-meter mark and immediately fired the ball. An LMU defender tipped the ball but it still found its way into the goal to bring U-M within one. The Lions were not done, however, and created a breakaway in the final five seconds of the period. Michigan was forced to foul on the play and Wines scored her third goal of the game on the ensuing penalty shot to put the Maize and Blue down 5-3 heading into the final stanza.
The Lions had a prime opportunity to extend their lead and possibly put the game away with a power-play chance with 3:30 left to play, but Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) blocked the LMU attempts to keep the Wolverines in the game. Mandi Hagedorn (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) nearly closed the gap for Michigan when she appeared to beat the LMU goalkeeper only to be denied when the goalkeeper recovered to pull the ball away from the goal line and save the score. Two minutes later LMU found the back of the Michigan net to extend their lead to 6-3. Hagedorn eventually broke through with a goal for the Wolverines with 18 seconds remaining in the game to produce the final score.
Stanford, which defeated Michigan 13-3 in the semifinal round, won the NCAA championship with an 8-4 victory over UCLA.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Loyola Marymount | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Jen Crisman 2, Mandi Hagedorn, Casey Kerney. LMU Goals: Lucy Windes 4, Caroline Guidi 2.
N O T E S
Betsey Armstrong continued her streak with double-digit saves in a game as she recorded 10 blocks against Loyola Marymount. She ended the season on a six-game streak with double-digit saves, including her 16-save performance against eventual national champion Stanford in a semifinal on May 11.
Two Wolverines received second team all-tournament honors. Betsey Armstrong compiled 26 saves in the two games, and Jen Crisman recorded three goals and five steals over the weekend.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Amber Drury-Pinto
On the game ... "We got off to a bit of a slow start. We had our shot opportunities but we could not convert on them. We were high, we were wide and we just missed."
On the difference in the team's attitude from yesterday to today ... "Yesterday we had the first-game jitters. Even though they did not want to be, you could tell that the girls were nervous. Today we were used to the crowd, the weather, and the pool so there was nothing new."
On the final minutes of the game ... "We are a team that tends to get fired up just a few minutes too late. If we could have put the game into overtime who knows what would have happened."
On the team's accomplishment ... "Sometimes I need a reality check and remember that we are only a second-year program. We wanted to be in the championship game or at least win third, but we are still very young. We made a lot of huge strides this year, but I told the team that we cannot be satisfied. We need to keep taking baby steps but never be satisfied."
U-M Senior Utility Delia Sonda
On the effect of yesterday's game on the team's attitude ... "We did not even think about yesterday's game. We played a lot better. Our team bounces back from tough losses really well. We knew that we were capable of winning, we just did not pull it off."
On the final minutes of the game ... "I was very excited. The potential was there and we tried really hard. I was proud of the way we fought all the way to the end."
On going from a club program to the NCAAs in two years ... "It is surreal. Back home no one knew too much about water polo. I am glad for the pride it will bring to Michigan. I am sure I will look back on this and be very proud and amazed of what we have done."
LMU Head Coach John Loughran
On the game ... "I thought we came out and had a good start. Our two seniors stepped up big time, Lucy Wines and Devon Courtney. Defensively, we did a nice job. Our goal was to hold them to four goals or less. Devon's play in goal was the high point of the game. We came out and hit some nice plays, including two 6-on-5s. Caroline Guidi's second goal sealed the game. She's been our most consistent player."
LMU Utility Lucy Wines
On the game ... "We were ready to go out and play. We knew it was our last game and we had to give it our all. Devon (Courtney) had a wonderful game."
Contact: Matt Trevor, Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
