Michigan
Indiana
Wolverines Top Indiana to Win Southern Division Crown
4/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
LEWSIBURG, Pa. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team defeated No. 15 Indiana 6-2 in the Southern Division Championships final today (Sunday, April 13). With the victory, the Wolverines (20-9) earned their second consecutive Southern Division crown and are the favorites for the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Eastern Championships. Michigan's defense dominated throughout the game, shutting out the Hoosiers (23-9) in the first half and holding Indiana 0-for-8 on the power play.
Sophomore goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) made a season-high 17 saves in the game. Jo Antonsen (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura HS) led the offensive charge with her second hat trick of the tournament and contributed one assist and a pair of steals.
In the opening quarter, neither team was able to gain an advantage until Meg Knudtsen (Los Altos, Calif./St Francis HS) gave Michigan a 1-0 lead with 2:15 left on the clock. Antonsen increased the Wolverines' lead to 2-0 with 1:37 remaining in the first period with her first score of the game, and then Casey Kerney (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park HS) put U-M up three on Michigan's very next possession.
Indiana had numerous scoring chances in the second period, including three six-on-five opportunities. Michigan, however, was up to the task each time, holding the Hoosiers scoreless in the quarter. The Wolverines were able to extend their lead on Antonsen's second marker of the contest at the 2:25 mark, and Michigan held a 4-0 lead at halftime.
The Hoosiers started a comeback in the third quarter with a pair of goals midway through the period. The first tally came with 3:37 left in the period and the second came off a deflection by the Michigan defense 52 seconds later. Antonsen answered for the Wolverines by completing her hat trick with just less than two minutes to play in the stanza. Michigan held a 5-2 lead going into the final quarter.
Michigan's defense took over the game in the fourth quarter, not allowing a goal in the frame. Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) sealed the game with a score from 2-meters with 1:40 left in the game. Nisbet spun off her defender and placed the shot in the upper corner to give U-M a 6-2 victory.
The Wolverines take a week off before traveling to Boston, Mass., to compete in the Eastern Championships, where Michigan will likely be the No. 1 seed. The tournament champion earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Final Four.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Michigan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Indiana Goals: Bridget McKeon 2. Michigan Goals: Jo Antonsen 3, Casey Kerney, Julie Nisbet, Meg Knudtsen. Ejections: Indiana 4, Michigan 8.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Matt Anderson
On the game ... "I think the difference in this game and the last time we played Indiana is the fact that we are healthy again. They were minus one of their top players and we were minus one of our top players in Erin Brown. The difference was that this game we had Jo (Antonsen) and Megan (Hausmann). Jo really stepped up with a hat trick. She was the key today, along with Betsey (Armstrong). We planned to allow them to shoot but not to score. They took their shots, but they were the shots we wanted them to take. Betsey was huge. Once we took a three-goal lead after the first quarter, I was very comfortable. Our players were playing so well defensively, I did not think they could come back from that deficit. Indiana is a very good team and I expect to have to face them at some point at the Eastern Championships."
On the team's defensive effort ... "The team understands that they have to play defense if they want to play for me. Right now they are playing especially well. For us to give up only nine goals over four games while still playing well on offense is very impressive."
On what makes Michigan so successful against Indiana ... "I think it is that Michigan has become a very good team against opponents from the west or the east. The team understands when they need to turn it up a notch. Possibly one of the reasons we do that against Indiana is because they are the only other team in the Big Ten. I do not think our edge is either physical of psychological specifically. I think it is because our team understands what they need to be doing to be in the upper echelon of teams in the country, and they are doing it.
On Jo Antonsen's performance since her injury ... "She is playing very well, but she is still getting back in shape. She really adds another weapon for us on offense and she is an outstanding defensive player. She adds a lot of versatility to the team. From the way she is playing, I think Jo is very comfortable taking on that challenge."
On the significance of the game in terms of the Eastern standings ... "This solidifies Michigan is going to be a team that other teams have to go through to get to the NCAA Final Four. There are still a number of other teams out there that are contending for that slot, but Michigan is definitely one of them. We should be the No. 1 seed at the Eastern Championships. We just have three more games to win."
N O T E S
Michigan improved its all-time record against Indiana to 12-0-1.
Jo Antonsen scored her second hat trick of the season. It is the third hat trick of her career.
Betsey Armstrong made a season-high 17 saves. It is two shy of the school record which she set against Indiana in a sudden-death overtime game last year (April 27).
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
