Michigan
Stanford
Wolverines Split on Opening Day of Stanford Invitational
2/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Site: Palo Alto, Calif. (Avery Aquatics Center)
Event: Stanford Invite
Scores: #3 Stanford 11, #8 Michigan 3; #8 Michigan 7, #12 San Jose State 4
Records: U-M (6-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 8 -- vs. Southern Cal at Stanford Invite (Palo Alto, Calif.), 10 a.m. PST
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The eighth-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team split its two games today (Saturday, Feb. 7) in the Stanford Invite at the Avery Aquatic Center. Michigan (6-1) dropped its first contest of the tournament to the third-ranked Cardinal, 11-3, but rallied to earn a 7-4 victory against No. 12 San Jose State.
| | Kerney's 10th career hat trick helped the Wolverines take down San Jose State. |
The Wolverines were unable to take advantage of the power play against Stanford, going one-for-nine with a six-on-five advantage. Stanford got out to a quick start, holding a 4-0 lead after the first period. The Cardinal's first two goals came off the power play, and Stanford added two more in the final 90 seconds of the quarter.
Stanford scored first in the second quarter, taking a 5-0 lead before Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS) closed the gap to four with three minutes to go in the half. However, Stanford scored one more goal in the final minute of the period to take a 6-1 lead into the intermission.
The Cardinal continued to control the play in the second half, scoring the first three goals of the third quarter. Jo Antonsen's (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura HS) marker with one minute left in the frame made the score 9-2 heading into the final quarter.
Neither team was able to get on the board in the fourth quarter until Melissa Goldberg (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis HS) cut the lead to 9-3 with two minutes to go. The Cardinal scored two more times in the final two minutes to make the final score 11-3.
In the afternoon session, Michigan jumped out to a quick lead against San Jose State, courtesy of the counterattack. Kerney got things started, notching the Wolverines' first two goals of the contest. Megan Hausmann (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS) put U-M up three with 2:15 to go in the opening period, and Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto HS) completed the run one minute later. Michigan held a 4-0 lead after the first period.
San Jose State struck back with a marker just over one minute into the second stanza. Katie Morgan then cut the lead to 4-2 with her first of three goals in the game with 4:56 remaining in the half. Nisbet answered for the Wolverines just 58 second before halftime to put Michigan up 5-2 at the half.
Ellison scored her second goal with 5:22 left in the third period to make the score 6-2 in favor of the Wolverines. Morgan put the Spartans on the board again, pulling SJSU within four heading into the final period.
Thirty seconds into the fourth quarter, Morgan closed the gap to 6-4, but that was as close as the Spartans would ever get. Kerney completed her hat trick with one second left on the clock to seal the 7-4 victory for Michigan.
Michigan will return to the Avery Aquatic Center for day two of the Stanford Invite tomorrow (Feb. 8). The Wolverines will face No. 2 Southern Cal at 10 a.m. PST and the compete in the championship round later that afternoon.
GAME SUMMARIES
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Stanford | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Sheetal Narsai, Jo Antonsen, Melissa Goldberg. Stanford Goals: Laurel Champion, Wendy Watkins 2, Lauren Faust 2, Alison Gregorka, Scotti Shafer, Nancy El-Sakkary, Christina Hewko. Ejections: Michigan 6, Stanford 9.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| San Jose State | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Casey Kerney 3, Wesley Ellison 2, Megan Hausmann, Julie Nisbet. San Jose State Goals: Katie Morgan 3, Mary Beth Cox. Ejections: Michigan 11, San Jose State 7.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
