Michigan
Bucknell
Michigan Knocks Out Day-Two Opponents at Princeton Invitational
2/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Site:Princeton, N.J.(DeNunzio Pool)
Scores: #15 Michigan 11, Bucknell 8; #15 Michigan 9, #19 Princeton 5
Records: U-M (5-7)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Feb.21 -- atLoyola Marymount(Los Angeles, Calif.)
Notes & Quotes
PRINCETON, N.J. -- A six-goal day from senior Michelle Keeley(Rockford, Mich./Rockford) helped the No. 15-ranked University of Michigan water polo team to a pair of wins on day two of the Princeton Invitational Sunday (Feb. 17). The Wolverines downed host No. 19 Princeton, 9-5, following an 11-8 victory over Bucknell to open the day.
Keeley had five goals in game one and another marker in game two, bringing her weekend total to 10 scores. Freshman Alison Mantel(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) notched a goal in each game and chipped in two assists. Junior Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) and sophomore Leah Robertson(Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) had three goals apiece on the day.
Junior Brittany May(Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) got the start in both games, earning her first two victories in a Maize and Blue uniform. She made a career-high eight saves against Princeton, combining for 11 blocks in 48 minutes of work.
The Wolverines held a pair of two goal leads in the first period against Princeton on goals from Mantel, Robertson and juniors Julie Hyrne(Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and Sharayah Hernandez(Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho). The Maize and Blue carried a 4-2 lead through a scoreless second period and into half-time on strong defense and timely saves. The Wolverines forced Princeton to hand over the ball on shot clock violations on three occasions in the second stanza and May made three saves culminating with a stop late in the period on a one-timer across the goalmouth.
Right out of the gate after half-time, Michigan scored to go ahead 5-2 on a skip shot from Hyrne that took a short hop off of the water and under the goalkeepers arm. The Maize and Blue game-winner came a minute later on a lob toss from seven meters by Robertson into the cage to give U-M a 6-5 lead. Princeton tried to mount a comeback, scoring three of the next four goals in the period, but could only close to within a 7-5 score.
The Michigan defense, along with May in net, was able to deny the Tigers comeback attempt in the final frame, outscoring Princeton 2-0 in the period. The Wolverines scored early on a rebound off of the crossbar that landed in Frost's hands, giving her a clear shot at the back of the net from inside two meters. Keeley rounded out the scoring at 3:33, allowing U-M to run out the remaining time on the clock.
The Wolverines got a jump on the day with a come-from-behind win over Bucknell. Michigan fell behind, 4-3, early in the first period, despite two goals from Keeley and a goal from Robertson. Keeley wasted no time securing her second hat trick in as many games in the second period, scoring three times in the frame. Junior Carrie Frost(Saline, Mich./Saline) also contributed a goal in the period while May kept the Bisons off the board as part of a three save effort.
Sophomore Kimberly Gero(Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) took over the goaltending duties in the second half, posting four saves in 16 minutes in the cage. The teams exchanged goals with freshman Alison Mantel(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) converting a Wolverine counterattack with seconds remaining to put the Wolverines up 8-5 heading into the final stanza. In the fourth period, sophomore Logan Bjorkman(Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley) and freshmen Sarah Roberts(Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Ryley Plunkett(Modesto, Mich./Johansen) each found the back of the cage to solidify the win.
Michigan travels to Los Angeles, Calif., on Thursday (Feb. 21) to take on Loyola Marymount at 3 p.m. PST. The Wolverines will follow-up the midweek game at the Anteater Invitational on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 23-24) in Irvine, Calif.
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | ||||
| Bucknell | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||
| #15 Michigan | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | ||||
| #15 Michigan | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | ||||
| #19 Princeton | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
