Michigan
Long Beach State
Wolverines Let Halftime Lead Slip Away at Long Beach
2/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The eighth-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team dropped a close 8-5 decision at No. 4 Long Beach State on Thursday (Feb. 26). The Wolverines (10-4) held a 4-3 lead with one minute left in the third quarter, but five straight goals from the 49ers led to LBSU's comeback victory. Goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) made 12 saves in the loss and freshman Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) led the offense with a pair of goals.
LBSU struck first, scoring on its opening posession. After winning the sprint, the 49ers scored the ball 30 seconds later to take a 1-0 lead. The Wolverines, however, answered on the ensuing possession, tying the score at one on a marker by Casey Kerney (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park HS). The 49ers regained their one-goal lead at the 2:37 mark and took a 2-1 lead into the second quarter.
Two minutes into the second period, Welch tied the game at 2-2 with her first goal of the game. LBSU reestablished its one-goal lead at 4:10, but once again Michigan answered behind a goal from Meg Knudtsen (Los Altos, Calif./St. Francis HS). Then with three minutes left in the half, Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS) gave the Wolverines their first lead of the game, 4-3.
The score remained at 4-3 until LBSU finally tied the game with 1:01 to go in the third period. The 49ers then took a 5-4 lead with 15 seconds left in the frame, scoring a power-play goal to take control of the game.
The final quarter started with three goals from the 49ers over the first three minutes of the period to open up an 8-4 lead. U-M closed the gap to 8-5 with Welch's second goal of the game, but the Wolverines were not able to find the mark again.
Michigan will return to the pool tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 27) with a match against California Lutheran at 5 p.m. PST in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The Wolverines will then participate in the UC Santa Barbara Invite on Feb. 28-29.
GAME SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Long Beach State | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Shana Welch 2, Casey Kerney, Meg Knudtsen, Sheetal Narsai. LBSU Goals: Angelica Garcia 2, Robyn Gordin 2, Drew Wawrzynski 2, Jessica Levin 1, Alison Braden 1. Ejections: Michigan 5, LBSU 5.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Matt Anderson
On the game ... "For 20 minutes we controlled the game. We were up on the No. 4 team in the country and I think we were legitimately taking it to them, but they would just not fall. Against another team, we would have put up five or six goals in the third quarter. They took our best shots and came back with three goals in the fourth. That is why they are the No. 4 team in the country."
On the difference in the game ... "The difference was we gave them a chance to get up and come back and take the lead. We played three quarters and then we slipped a little in the fourth. That three-minute span was the separation between No. 4 and No. 8.
On how the team can improve against the top competition ... "We have to keep playing teams that make us play better. It is one thing to win a game you should win and another thing to play a team that will make you better. That is how you learn."
N O T E S
With 12 saves tonight, Betsey Armstrong posted her 39th career game with 10 or more saves. It is also the seventh time this season she has reach the 10-save mark in a game.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
