Michigan
Bucknell
Michigan Wraps Regular Season with Lopsided Win over Bucknell
4/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
April 19, 2015
• Quotes
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center)
Score: #16 Michigan 13, Bucknell 4
Records: U-M (18-11, 8-1 CWPA), Bucknell (11-12, 3-6 CWPA)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., April 24-26 -- at CWPA Championship (Princeton, N.J.)
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan water polo team closed out its regular season with a lopsided 13-4 victory over Bucknell on Sunday morning (April 19) at Indiana's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. With the victory, the Wolverines completed a 9-1 CWPA record to share the top spot in the final regular-season league standings.
Freshman Caroline Anderson headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts, scoring four goals -- her team-best ninth hat trick of the season -- and two assists. Sophomore Allison Skaggs also boasted a hat trick with two helpers, while senior Danielle Robinson and junior Ali Thomason posted two goals apiece. Thomason also tallied four assists.
Junior Julia Campbell and sophomore Emily Browning split time in the Wolverine cage; Campbell registered six saves through three quarters of play, while Browning added another stop in the fourth.
Michigan jumped out to an early advantage, scoring twice in the opening minute of the first quarter, and after Bucknell pulled within one with a five-meter penalty midway through the halfway, Robinson netted two goals late, including a counter-attack tally with just 52 seconds remaining to reestablish U-M's two-goal advantage.
Anderson tallied one in the first quarter and added another on the perimeter in the second as the Wolverines extended their lead to 7-3 at halftime. She completed her hat trick early in the third, while Skaggs and freshman Addi Halligan both scored in the final 63 seconds of the frame.
Anderson again scored from the perimeter early in the fourth quarter, and Michigan surged with three more goals. Skaggs completed her hat trick with a 6-on-5 tally in the final minute of the play.
The Wolverines will kick off the postseason at the annual CWPA Championship next weekend (Fri-Sun., April 24-26) at Princeton's DeNunzio Pool in Princeton, New Jersey. Full tournament seeds will be announced tomorrow (Monday, April 20) by the CWPA.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan (18-11) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| Bucknell (11-12) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
BU Goals: Hannah Sunday 2, Taylor Barnett, Katherine DeRuff
Saves: U-M 7 (Julia Campbell 6, Emily Browning 1), BU N/A (Manuela Herrera)
Ejections: U-M 10, BU 7
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Marcelo Leonardi
On the focus this weekend ... "Our focus this weekend was to just finish strong in conference to secure our seeding for the tournament. It was also the last weekend to look at some different tactical scenarios, practice some plays leading into the tournament and build some confidence for our second unit in order to translate into the tournament next weekend."
On the play of the second unit ... "We had three games this weekend where our second unit played a lot of minutes. There were a number of players that played quite well. Laura Jimenez continued to play well on both sides of the ball, and our secondary defenders, Allison Larko and Heidi Moreland, guarded the center position well."
On the mindset and plan going into the postseason ... "The focus now is to refine and sharpen the last three practices in preparation for one game per day. Our fitness is obviously at a really good level right now. We have all the experience from all the games we played throughout the season but more particularly it's us being able to prep one game per day and execute."
On the schedule building to this point of the season ... "Our schedule provided gains on both coasts, not only on the west coast but also on the east. It not only gave us the opportunity to see different styles of play, different styles of officiating, just a different exposure on both coasts. I feel that's important. All the simulations and scenarios, wins and losses, it's provided us a great opportunity to position ourselves to make a run at an Eastern championship."
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (763) 763-4423
