Seventh Heaven: Wolverines Down Hoosiers to Claim Division Title

Saturday, April 19

Grove City, Pa.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Indiana

Seventh Heaven: Wolverines Down Hoosiers to Claim Division Title

4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Grove City, Pa. (Grove City College Pool)
Event: Western Division Championship (Finals)
Scores: #11 Michigan 11, #18 Indiana 3
Record: U-M (30-9); Indiana (19-14)
Next U-M Event: Fri.-Sun., April 25-27 -- at Eastern Championship (Canham Natatorium)

Notes & Quotes

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- It only took 10:16 for the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team to build the lead necessary to clinch its seventh-straight division title Saturday night (April 19). The Wolverines knocked off No. 18-ranked Indiana 11-3 in the final round of the CWPA Western Division Championship at the Grove City College Pool.

Junior Sharayah Hernandez(Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) scored twice, both in the first two minutes of the contest. Junior goalkeeper Brittany May(Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) sparkled to a six stop performance in the cage, holding the Hoosiers scoreless in the first half while the Wolverines built an insurmountable lead.

The Wolverine defense turned in one of the strongest outings of the season, committing a program-record 31 thefts led by sophomore Leah Robertson's(Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) five and freshman Alison Mantel's(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) four.

Michigan began building the lead it would hold the entire game 18 seconds after the opening sprint. Hernandez converted on a counter-attack, skipping a shot into the cage from four meters. A minute later, she struck again with a floater inside the far bar to give U-M a 2-0 lead. The counter-attack continued to click for the maize and blue, producing another goal at 2:18. Julie Hyrne(Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) found an open Kelsey Haley (Portola Valley, Calif./Menlo) at six meters where the junior deposited the ball into the net. Midway through the frame, Lauren Wyckoff looked to chip into the Wolverine lead, but May was able to cover the net and guide the ball to safety.

The deciding goal came 2:16 into the second period off the hand of junior Carrie Frost(Saline, Mich./Saline). Sitting at four meters, Frost took a pass on the inside and swooped the ball into the cage. The freshmen got into the act to extend the lead to 5-0 at 4:13 when Lauren Orth(Poway, Calif./Poway) caught a cross-pool pass from Cara Reitz(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) and put a changeup inside the far bar. Reitz got a goal of her own on a long blast from Sarah Roberts(Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) at seven meters. The Hoosiers threatened to get on the board before the break with a power play opportunity. IU's Kara Butler found space at six meters and aimed for the far corner of the net, but May was up to the task with the stop.

Indiana finally solved the Michigan defense in the third period. Kelsey Campbell took advantage of a fleeting shot clock to create the space she needed to score. Hyrne followed with a pair of scores by shaking defenders at two meters, interrupted by Indiana's second goal to give U-M an 8-2 edge. Orth found the back of the cage from 10 meters out on a floater that had eyes for the net to add to the lead. May was once again tested late in a period, being called upon to make two crucial cross-cage saves in the frame.

Michigan continued to pound away at Indiana, scoring on two of five shots in the last period. Sophomore Terri Bukofzer(Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson) scored early from five meters before the Hoosiers answered with their final marker. IU had one last chance late, drawing a penalty shot against freshly inserted Kimberly Gero(Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo). Nora Kennelly took the shot, trying to go to Gero's right, but the sophomore was ready and made the stop with her right hand. With 14 seconds separating the Wolverines from the title, sophomore Farren Rixter(Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) spun off a defender at two meters and hit the back of the cage to put an exclamation point on the victory.

Michigan will play host to the Eastern Championship Friday-Sunday (April 25-27) at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines will find out their seed on Monday (April 21). The winner of the Eastern Championships earns the CWPA bid to the NCAA Championships, held at Stanford from May 9-11.

GAME SUMMARY