Michigan
California Lutheran
Welch, Chatigny Net Hat Tricks in Win at Cal Lutheran
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The No. 12 University of Michigan women's water polo team outscored Cal Lutheran 8-2 in the first half on the way to a 12-5 win over the Regals on Thursday (Feb. 23) at Oaks Christian High School. Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming West Valley) and Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) each netted a hat trick, while Chatigny had a team-high four steals and Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto) added three more thefts.
Chatigny scored the only two goals in the first period, netting the first marker three minutes in and adding her second just over a minute later. Michelle Keeley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) netted Michigan's third goal out of the two-meter slot 29 seconds into the second quarter. After a Cal Lutheran goal 1:30 in, Welch came back with a power-play tally with 5:09 remaining in the second frame to push the score to 4-1. Ellison answered a CLU goal to make it 5-2, and Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) scored back-to-back counterattack goals one minute apart near the end of the second to open up a five-goal lead for the Maize and Blue. Carly Strub (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) connected on a shot from six meters out just before halftime to give Michigan an 8-2 lead just before the horn.
Kaitlin Prijatel (North Tustin, Calif./Foothill) capitalized on a 6-on-5 just 31 seconds into the second half as she placed an outside shot into the back of the cage. Chatigny completed the hat trick to make it 10-2 with a spectacular individual effort, intercepting a pass on a CLU man advantage and racing the other way for a breakaway marker.
Cal Lutheran responded with a goal at the 3:48 mark of the third to cut U-M's lead to 10-3 before Welch scored her second of the game on a natural goal with just under two minutes remaining in the third period.
The Regals scored to make it 11-4 at the end of the third and got the first goal of the final frame with 1:42 left. Welch was not to be denied the hat trick, however, connecting on a half-court, outside shot with 22 ticks left to give Michigan the 12-5 win.
The Wolverines next travel to Santa Barbara, Calif., for the UCSB Gaucho Invitational Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 25-26) at the Rec Center Pool. Michigan will face No. 5 Hawaii in its first game and will play either No. 13 California-Irvine or No. 4 Loyola Marymount in its second game Saturday.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Cal Lutheran | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Shana Welch 3, Mary Chatigny 3, Carrie Frost 2, Michelle Keeley, Carly Strub, Wesley Ellison, Kaitlin Prijatel. Cal Lutheran Goals: Courtney Robertson 3, Michele Hernandez, Nicole Pecel. Ejections: U-M 11, CLU 5.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
