Michigan Splits Two Close Matches at UCSB Invitational

Saturday, February 28

Santa Barbara, Calif.

10:10 AM PT

Michigan

Loyola Marymount

Michigan Splits Two Close Matches at UCSB Invitational

2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Rec Center Pool)
Event: UC Santa Barbara Invitational
Scores: #8 Michigan 3, #7 Loyola Marymount 2; #1 Southern Cal 6, #8 Michigan 4
Records: U-M (12-5)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 29 -- vs. San Diego State (Santa Barbara, Calif.), 8 a.m. PST

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The eighth-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team split its two games today (Saturday, Feb. 28) at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational, earning a 3-2 victory over No. 7 Loyola Marymount but then falling 6-4 to No. 1 Southern Cal. LMU is the highest ranked program that Michigan has beaten.

Julie Nisbet (above) and Casey Kerney each scored twice against No. 1 USC.

The Wolverines (12-5) received three goals from senior Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) during the day. Nisbet had a hand in two other tallies as she drew a pair of four-meter penalties against LMU. Goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) also had a stellar day, posting 10 saves against the Lions and another 14 against Southern Cal.

In the opening game of the tournament, Michigan took an early advantage over Loyola Marymount, 1-0, when Nisbet drew a four-meter penalty against the Lions with one minute left in the first period. Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS) converted on the attempt to give U-M the lead.

The Lions evened the count two minutes into the second period at 1-1. Michigan answered with 2:14 to go in the half with a goal from Nisbet. The senior received a pass from Armstrong to reestablish the Wolverines' one-goal lead, 2-1.

Neither team was able to score the ball in the third quarter and the score remained 2-1 in favor of Michigan heading into the final period. With three minutes left in the game, Nisbet drew her second four-meter penalty of the game, and once again Narsai converted on the attempt to make the score 3-1. LMU closed the gap to 3-2 with one minute to play, but the Michigan defense held for the remainder of the game to preserve the victory.

With the win over LMU, Michigan advanced to play Southern Cal for the second time this month. USC took control of the game with a power-play goal at the 4:44 mark of the first quarter. The Wolverines responded with a goal from Casey Kerney (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park HS), who was assisted by Erin Brown (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS).

In the second quarter, Michigan gained a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal from Nisbet. Brown tallied her second assist of the game, finding Nisbet for the tip-in goal. The U-M lead was short-lived however, as the Women of Troy knotted the score at 2-2 just 40 seconds later. Southern Cal went on to score the next two goals to take a 4-2 lead with three minutes to go before the half. Nisbet cut the deficit to one, receiving a pass from Narsai for the goal. At intermission, USC held a 4-3 advantage.

The third quarter began with back-to-back goals from the Women of Troy, making the score 6-3. The Wolverines closed the gap to 6-4 on Kerney's second goal of the game. Kerney received a pass up the pool from Armstrong for the U-M score.

The Michigan defense tightened up to end the third quarter and throughout the fourth, not allowing USC to get on the board again. However, Michigan also was also unable to find the mark offensively.

Michigan will continue in the UC Santa Barbara Invitational tomorrow (Feb. 29) with an early match against No. 5 San Diego State at 8 a.m. PST. Depending on the results of that game, U-M will face either No. 6 California or No. 10 Hawaii.

GAME SUMMARIES

Game 1	1	2	3	4	F
Michigan	1	1	0	1	3
Loyola Marymount	0	1	0	1	2

Scoring
Michigan Goals: Sheetal Narsai 2, Julie Nisbet. LMU Goals: Stacia Peterson 2. Ejections: Michigan 5, LMU 5.

Game 2	1	2	3	4	F
Michigan	1	2	1	0	4
Southern Cal	1	3	2	0	6

Scoring
Michigan Goals: Casey Kerney 2, Julie Nisbet 2. Southern Cal Goals: Erin Wilson 2, Erika Figge, Liz Simms, Brittany Hayes, Marina Mayer. Ejections: Michigan 6, Southern Cal 5.

Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423