U-M Sweeps Four Games Against Division Competitors

Saturday, March 3

Erie, Pa.

12:30 PM

Michigan

Penn State Behrend

3/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Erie, Pa.
Results: #11 Michigan 14, Penn State-Behrend 2; #11 U-M 19 Grove City 3;
    #11 U-M 19, Washington & Jefferson 4; #11 U-M 15, Gannon 5
Records: Michigan (10-9-1)
Next Event: Friday, March 16 -- vs. Michigan State (Canham Natatorium), 7 p.m.

ERIE, Pa. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team dominated the competition at the Southern Division Tournament on Saturday and Sunday (March 3-4), winning four games by a combined score of 67-14. Sophomore Monica Paz (Santa Monica, Calif./Harvard Westlake HS) scored two separate hat tricks as the Wolverines swept Penn State Behrend (14-2) and Grove City (19-3) on Saturday at the Recreation Center Pool on the campus of Gannon University.

On Sunday, freshman Chelsea Kay (Laguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Beach HS) set a school record with five goals in a 15-5 win over Gannon, following a 19-4 victory against Washington and Jefferson at the Athletic Recreation Center Pool on the campus of Penn State-Behrend.

Michigan got off to an early start in the first game against Penn State-Behrend, finding the net six times in the first period while shutting out the Lions. Michigan took a 9-1 lead into halftime and the Maize and Blue continued to dominate for the final 14 minutes, outscoring Penn State-Behrend 5-1. The Wolverines only allowed the Lions two goals -- one in the second and one in the third -- to close out the game at 14-2.

Paz netted her first goal of the season en route to a three-goal hat trick. Junior Mandi Hagedorn (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) and junior Sara Kowal (Rockville, Mich./Rockville HS) each accounted for two Wolverine goals. Kowal also spent a portion of her playing time in the net, splitting time with freshman Camille Clarendon (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS) and sophomore Emily Pelino (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS). Kowal made three saves, while Clarendon and Pelino each accounted for two.

Michigan jumped back into action later that afternoon with a game against Grove City College. The Michigan Wolverines picked up right where they left off, finding the goal seven times in the first period and keeping the Grove City Wolverines out of scoring range. Michigan pounded the ball into the net six more times in the second period to lead 13-1 at the halfway point.

U-M received scoring from 12 different team members, including Paz, who netted her second three-goal game of the day. Michigan received two goals apiece from five different Wolverines, including Kowal, Stephanie Morse (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS), Maribeth Sitkowski (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS), Corrie Kenagy (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro HS) and Megan Hayes (Menlo Park, Calif./St. Francis HS). Kowal and Pelino made eight and four saves, respectively, in goal.

In Sunday's opener the Wolverine scored early and often in their 19-4 route of Washington and Jefferson, scoring 19 goals for the second consecutive game. Michigan scored six times in the opening period, followed by a four-goal second period. The Presidents scored three times in the first half, the most of any Michigan opponent during the two-day event. Ahead by seven at the start of the remaining 14 minutes, the Wolverines continued their domineering presence, finding the net nine more times to bring the final total to 19.

Eight different players scored two goals in the game. Scoring double goals were Delia Sonda (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), Kowal, Sitkowski, Hagedorn, Morse, Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS), Kenagy and Megan Hayes (Menlo Park, Calif./St. Francis HS).

Michigan concluded the round-robin style tournament with a 15-5 advantage over the Aqua Knights of Gannon University. Shutting out Gannon for the first period, the Maize and Blue slid the ball into the net four times and followed it up with five goals in the second to bring the lead to 9-2. Michigan finished the game with three goals in each of the two remaining periods, allowing the Aqua Knights only three more total goals. The five goals scored by Gannon in the game were the most scored by any of the Wolverines' four opponents during the tournament.

In addition to Kay's five-goal outburst, Kowal, Hagedorn and freshman Jeannine Bolhouse (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS) each found the net twice. Aside from her two goals, Kowal also remained stellar in goal, collecting nine saves for the Wolverines. Sharing time in net was Nisbet, who collected five saves of her own.

After playing 11 games in nine days on both sides of the country, the Wolverines will have a week off before gearing up to play Michigan State on Friday (March 16, 7 p.m.) at Canham Natatorium.

GAME SUMMARIES