Michigan
Brown
Two Wins Put Michigan in Eastern Championship Final
4/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan water polo team advanced to the final of the Eastern Championship with two wins on Saturday (April 29) at the Smith Swim Center. Michigan ousted Brown, 6-5, in the quarterfinal contest with help from Kristin Hoogenboom's (Portland, Ore./Sunset) five points (3 g, 2 a). The Wolverines then used three fourth-period goals to take down No. 20 Princeton in the semifinal, 8-5. Megan Hausmann's (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's) hat trick led the way for the Wolverines against the Tigers.
The Wolverines fell behind early in the quarterfinal game against Brown. The Bears tallied a score 1:45 in, but Hoogenboom answered for Michigan on a loft shot 2:31 into the first. Brown scored twice in the final three minutes, including a score with nine seconds remaining in the period, and carried a 3-1 lead into the second.
Michigan came out strong in the second but missed wide on two early chances. Hausmann then nearly cut the deficit to one on a breakaway, but her rocket shot slammed into the post. U-M finally put one into the net as Hausmann forced a steal and fed Sharayah Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) for a score, and Michigan went into halftime down 3-2.
Hoogenboom tied the game three minutes into the second half on the power play. Hausmann sailed a pass across the zone to Hoogenboom, who fired on in from close range. Carly Strub (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) gave Michigan the lead on another 6-on-5 chance two possessions later and Michigan shut out the Bears in the third to take a 4-3 lead into the fourth.
Hoogenboom completed the hat trick with the first goal of the fourth period to give Michigan a 5-3 advantage. Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) swam the ball down on a 2-on-1 counterattack and fed Hoogenboom for the goal. Brown bounced back with two scores and tied the game with just over a minute left in the game. The seniors continued to generate the offense, however, as Hausmann took a quick pass from Hoogenboom just as play started on a 6-on-5 and Hausmann fired home the winner from the outside.
The Wolverines dodged a bullet late after a Michigan ejection when Kristen Davis (Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park), who made six saves, and Hoogenboom combined for the block on Brown's man-advantage shot. Michigan ran out the clock and moved into the semifinals with the 6-5 victory.
In the semifinal game against Princeton, Michigan grabbed the early lead at the 3:30 of the first. Just before the shot clock was about to expire, Hausmann took a give-and-go pass from Welch and fired it home. Princeton answered back with two goals on its next two possessions to take a 2-1 lead. A late save from close-in range by Davis kept Michigan within one entering the second frame.
Welch controlled the second-period sprint and punched the ball to Hoogenboom, who then fed Hausmann in the two meter for the tying goal 15 seconds in. However, Princeton once again rebounded to take the lead again, 3-2. Davis kept the Wolverines within one with a fingertip save on Princeton's next possession as the Tigers outnumbered Michigan down low.
The Wolverines took advantage of Davis' stellar save when Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) tied the game for Michigan on a counterattack with just 19 seconds remaining. Michelle Keeley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) assisted on Frost's breakaway tally and U-M went into half tied 3-3.
Hausmann iced the hat trick as Michigan once again tallied a goal off the sprint to move the score to 4-3. Hausmann had a chance to give U-M a two-goal lead on a four-meter attempt, but her shot was blocked. Strub followed with a post shot on Michigan's subsequent man-advantage. That allowed the Tigers to tie the score 4-4 on their third 6-on-5 chance of the game.
After Frost rang one off the crossbar, Princeton took its first lead of the game on a 6-on-5 opportunity. Hyrne showed her sniper skills on Michigan's next offensive possession as she sunk one into the cage from long distance to tie it at 5-5 with just over a minute to play in the period. The score remained tied heading into the final stanza.
Hyrne then earned back Michigan's lead two minutes into the fourth period to make the score 6-5. The freshman blocked a shot and turned on the jets the other way for the tally. The Wolverines extended the lead to 8-5 in the following minute of play. Hoogenboom scored the seventh out of two meters, and Strub connected on a bomb from long range on a 6-on-5.
Michigan's defense remained stout and the Wolverines cruised to the 8-5 victory to move onto the Eastern Championship final game against Hartwick tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the Smith Swim Center in Providence, R.I.
GAME SUMMARIES
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Brown | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
Scoring
U-M Goals: Kristin Hoogenboom 3, Sharayah Hernandez, Carly Strub, Megan Hausmann. BU Goals: Paige Lansing 2, Karlyanna Kopra, Elizabeth Balassone, Ally Wyatt. Ejections: U-M 6, BU 6.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Princeton | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Michigan | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
Scoring
PU Goals: Jazmin Brown, Karina Reyner, Elyse Colgan, Carolina Ardila 2. U-M Goals: Megan Hausmann 3, Julie Hyrne 2, Kristin Hoogenboom, Carly Strub, Carrie Frost. Ejections: PU 6, U-M 8.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
