Water Polo Rolls to Three CWPA Wins in Pennsylvania

Saturday, March 27

Grove City, Pa.

12:30 PM

Michigan

Gannon

3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Grove City, Pa. (College Pool)
Event: CWPA Divisional Weekend
Scores: #8 Michigan 10, Gannon 5; #8 Michigan 15, Penn State Behrend 4;
    #8 Michigan 15, Mercyhurst 4
Records: U-M (22-7)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 28 -- vs. Washington & Jefferson (11 a.m.), Salem International (2 p.m.) at CWPA Divisional Weekend (Slippery Rock, Pa.)

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The eighth-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team maintained its perfect conference record with three wins today (Saturday, March 27) at the CWPA Divisional Weekend. The Wolverines (22-7, 6-0 CWPA) started the weekend with a 10-5 victory over Gannon at 12:30 p.m., defeated Penn State Behrend 15-4 at 4:15 p.m. and then duplicated that score in a win against Mercyhurst at 8:30 p.m. All three games were played at Grove City's College Pool.

U-M was led by Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS), who scored five goals over the three games, including four against Mercyhurst. Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto) also had a strong day, adding three markers, three steals and three drawn ejections. Freshman goalkeeper Sharon Warner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline HS) made 20 saves in goal for the Wolverines, including a career-high 11 against Penn State Behrend.

The Maize and Blue got off to a quick start against Gannon, taking a 6-2 lead by halftime. Michigan opened the game with a three-goal run, receiving scores from Welch, Meg Knudtsen (Los Altos, Calif./St. Francis HS) and Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS). The Golden Knights made the score 3-1 at the 3:33 mark, but Michigan regained its three-goal lead just 17 second later with a tally from Megan Hausmann (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS). Gannon scored the next goal to make the count 4-2, but Knudtsen gave the Wolverines a 6-2 advantage with two scores in the final two minutes of the first quarter. Neither team was able to light the lamp in the second quarter, leaving the score at 6-2 at the half.

In the second half, Erin Brown (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS) gave Michgian a 7-2 lead at the 3:30 mark of the third quarter. Gannon then drew within four, but Hausmann scored her second goal of the game in the final minute of the third period to increase U-M's lead to 8-3. Both teams scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter, with Michigan's tallies coming from Jenna Green (Atherton, Calif./Menlo HS) and Jineane Shibuya (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute).

Against Penn State Behrend, every Wolverine who played scored at least one goal. Michigan gained a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter, but the Lions quickly tied the game at 2-2. U-M responded with a 6-0 run to take an 8-2 lead into the locker room.

The Lions struck first in the third quarter, making the score 8-3 early in the period. Once again Michigan answered, this time with three scores to take an 11-3 lead into the fourth quarter. The Wolverines continued to dominate in the final stanza, outscoring Penn State Behrend 4-1 in the period to complete the 15-4 victory.

In the final game of the tripleheader, the Wolverines immediately took control of the game against Mercyhurst, gaining a 5-0 advantage after the opening quarter. The second period saw Michigan continue its dominance, as U-M opened up a 9-0 lead before giving up a late score to the Lakers that made the halftime score 9-1.

The Maize and Blue put up five more goals in the third quater to push its total to 14 scores. The Lakers also had one tally in the third period to make the score 14-2 heading into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Mercyhurst outscored Michigan 2-1, but it was the Wolverines who easily cruised to a 15-4 victory.

Michigan will travel down the road to Slippery Rock, Pa., to wrap its conference season with two more CWPA Divisional games Sunday (March 28). The Wolverines will face Washington & Jefferson (11 a.m.) and Salem International (2 p.m.).

GAME SUMMARIES

Game 1	1	2	3	4	F
Gannon	2	0	1	2	5
Michigan	6	0	2	2	10

Scoring
Gannon Goals: Jaime Theisen 2, Rishae Wood, Kyle Figaski. Michigan Goals: Meg Knudtsen 3, Megan Hausmann 2, Erin Brown, Sheetal Narsai, Shana Welch, Jenna Green, Jineane Shibuya. Ejections: Gannon 7, Michigan 5.