Wolverines Down Lions in Western Division Opener

Friday, April 18

Grove City, Pa.

5:15 PM

Michigan

Penn State-Behrend

4/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Grove City, Pa. (Grove City College Pool)
Event: Western Division Championship (Day 1)
Scores: #11 Michigan 23,Penn State-Behrend4
Record: U-M (28-9); Penn State-Behrend (1-16)
Next U-M Event: Saturday,April 19--vs. Gannonat Western Division Championship(Grove City, Pa.), 11:30 a.m.

ANN ARBOR , Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team downed Penn State-Behrend, 23-4, in the opening contest of the CWPA Western Division Championship Friday (April 18) at the Grove City College Pool.

Sophomore Farren Rixter's (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) four-goal day was among five hat tricks that led the Wolverines' offensive onslaught. Junior Carrie Frost(Saline, Mich./Saline) and freshmen Sarah Roberts(Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor), Cara Reitz(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) and Lauren Orth(Poway, Calif./Poway) each earned the golden sombrero.

Six Michigan players had multi-assist games. Junior Carrie Stover(Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and freshman Keller Felt(La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla) dished out four helpers apiece.

Junior Brittany May(Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) and sophomore Kimberly Gero(Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) combined to make 11 saves in the effort.

The Wolverines opened up a 7-1 lead after the first eight minutes. Rixter got her first of four markers before a minute had ticked off the clock, turning off a defender at two meters and dumping the ball into the back of the net. Two minutes later, Rixter helped get another goal on the board, drawing a penalty shot that Orth would cash in on.

In the second stanza, Roberts became the first Michigan player to dent the twine on three occasions, netting a pair from two meters to go with a first period goal. Junior Mary Chatigny(Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) got one of the maize and blue's five 6-on-5 goals of the game, skipping a shot from seven meters into the top of the net at 1:04.

Rixter and sophomore Terri Bukofzer(Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson) continued with their hot hand inside two meters, combining for four of U-M's first five goals after the break from in close. In the final frame, Michigan got goals from Reitz and Stover to help offset two late goals by the Lions in the final two minutes of play.

Michigan continues its defense of the Western Division crown Saturday (April 19) at 11:30 a.m., taking on Gannon. The winner ofthat game punches its ticket to the championship contest at 7:30 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY