Wolverines Close Own Invitational with Loss, Tie

Sunday, February 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

11:45 AM

Michigan

Stanford

2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Day 2)
Results: #1 Stanford 11, #9 Michigan 3; #9 Michigan 4, #15 Indiana 4
Records: Michigan (4-3-1)
Next Event: Thursday, Feb. 22 -- at Loyola Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.), 3 p.m. PST

Tournament Schedule and Scores

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team was unable to notch out a spot in the win column on the second and final day of competition at the inaugural Michigan Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 18) in Canham Natatorium. Five different Wolverines scored in the two games -- an 11-3 loss to top-ranked Stanford and a 4-4 tie with No. 15 Indiana -- as they brought their two-day tournament record to 2-2-1.

The Wolverines returned to the water for a morning rematch with top-ranked Stanford, which defeated Michigan 17-3 the previous night (Feb. 17). Despite falling 11-3, Michigan received strong goals from freshman Stephanie Rupp (Hemet, Calif./Hemet HS), junior Mandi Hagedorn (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) and senior Melissa Karjala (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) -- two on power plays and one at even strength.

Michigan's goalkeeping duo of Camille Clarendon (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS) and Sara Kowel (Rockville, Mich./Rockville HS) provided good coverage, blocking five strong Stanford chances. The Wolverines' defense also continued to pester Stanford, allowing the shot clock to run out after four strong drives and holding the Cardinal to one of their lowest goal totals of the season.

Michigan closed out the invitational with a game against Indiana, the only other Big Ten Conference school with a varsity-level water polo team. Indiana got on the board first with a quick back-handed shot as the shot clock expired, but Michigan's Rupp answered with her own goal. Freshmen Corrie Kenagy (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro HS) and Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) added two more to the Wolverine tally, but Indiana responded twice to even up the score at three heading into the final seven minutes.

Indiana notched its fourth goal, breaking the deadlock with four minutes left in the game. Nisbet earned her second goal of the game and tied the game up once again on a quick shot just outside of the red zone. After a last-minute Indiana chance hit the crossbar, time expired, closing the game at a 4-4 tie. Clarendon once again provided tough coverage in goal, blocking nine Hoosier attacks.

The Wolverines will travel west for a week-long trek through California, facing some of the nation's best teams. First up on Michigan's road trip is a meeting with Loyola Marymount on Thursday (Feb. 22) in Los Angeles, followed by the Gaucho Invitational at California-Santa Barbara on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 24-25).

GAME SUMMARIES

Game 1	1	2	3	4	F
Stanford	4	4	1	2	11
Michigan	1	0	1	1	3

Scoring
Michigan Goals: Mandi Hagedorn, Melissa Karjala, Stephanie Rupp. Stanford Goals: Nicole Huszcz 2, Margie Dingeldein 2, Lauren Faust 2, Ali Riddell, Kris Koblik, Brenda Villa, Julie Gardner, Jeanine Jackson.