Michigan
UC Santa Barbara
Kerney Scores Hat Trick in Season-Opening Loss
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Day 1)
Results: #6 Cal-Santa Barbara 7 #15 Michigan 6; #15 Michigan 20 Michigan State 8 (exhibition)
Records: U-M (0-1)
Next Event: Sunday, Jan. 27 -- vs. Hawaii (11 a.m.), vs. Indiana (2 p.m.) in Michigan Invitational (Canham Natatorium)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team kicked off its second varsity season on Saturday (Jan. 26) with the Michigan Invitational at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines opened up against sixth-ranked Cal-Santa Barbara with a 7-6 loss but rebounded with a 20-8 defeat of Michigan State's club team in an exhibition contest.
Freshman utility Casey Kerney (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park HS) led the offense, scoring three goals against the UCSB Gauchos in her first game as a Wolverine. On the defensive end of the pool, senior co-captain Delia Sonda (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) tied a school record with four steals in the season opener, and freshman goalie Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) made nine key saves for Michigan in her goaltending debut.
In the second game of the day against Michigan State, the Wolverines were paced by seniors Jen Crisman (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS) and Maribeth Sitkowski (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep), who each scored three goals. Sophomore two-meter Julie Nisbet (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara HS) added two tallies, with one coming off of a penalty shot.
In the season opener against No. 6 UCSB, Nisbet scored the first goal of the season from the two-meter position just 1:29 into the game and Kerney bounced another into the net early in the second period to tie the game at two goals apiece. UCSB's Mary Blumberg added her second goal of the game on a lob shot that gave the Gauchos a 3-2 halftime lead.
U-M came out strong in the second half with two goals in the first two and a half minutes of play. A 6-on-5 goal from Kerney and a well-placed lob by Erin Brown (San Diego Calif./Bishop's HS), gave the Wolverines the lead, 4-3. With the game tied in the final minute of the third quarter, Megan Ricks was able to put in a rebound for the Gauchos off of a diving save by Armstrong. Each team scored once more in the third and Michigan had a golden chance to knot the game going into the final period with a man advantage, but the Wolverines were unable to get the ball past UCSB goaltender Yvonne Conard, who made two point-blank saves.
With two minutes left, Kerney completed her hat trick but Michigan was unable to hold on as Kelley Tiffany scored the game-winner with 1:24 remaining. Michigan controlled the ball for the final 0:19 but was unable to get a shot off, leaving the score 7-6 and giving the win to UCSB.
In the second game of the day, the Maize and Blue appeared to have their hands full early with the club team from Michigan State. With two minutes left in the first quarter, the game remained tied 3-3. The Wolverines, however, proved to be too much for the Spartans as they put together an 9-1 scoring spree that made the halftime score 12-4. The run was highlighted by two goals each from Sitkowski, Crisman and freshman Rebecca Godek (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS).
Michigan did not let up in the second half, despite giving everyone playing time and resting starting goalie Armstrong in favor of Sara Kowal (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS). Both teams scored three goals in the third period, but another Michigan surge to end the game marked by two late scores from Brown sealed the Spartans' fate.
The Wolverines conclude action in the Michigan Invitational on Sunday (Jan. 27) against No. 7 Hawaii at 11 a.m. and No. 20 Indiana at 2 p.m. Both games will be held at Canham Natatorium.
Game Summaries
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Cal-Santa Barbara | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Michigan Goals: Casey Kerney 3, Julie Nisbet 2, Erin Brown. UCSB Goals: Kelley Tiffany 2, May Blumberg 2, Teresa Gorbett, Megan Ricks, Erin Lezak.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan State | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Michigan | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
Michigan Goals: Jen Crisman 3, Maribeth Sitkowski 3, Casey Kerney 2, Julie Nisbet 2, Meg Knudtsen 2, Erin Brown 2, Rebecca Godek 2, Delia Sonda, Stephanie Morse, Mandi Hagedorn, Erin Ball. Michigan State Goals: Catherine Lilley 3, Stacie Jehl 3, Carolyn Welch, Kristen Jonson.
N O T E S
• Freshman Casey Kerney scored a hat trick in her first appearance as a Wolverine.
• Freshman goalie Betsey Armstrong recorded nine blocks in her first game in net for Michigan.
• Senior co-captain Delia Sonda tied a school record with four steals vs. UCSB.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Amber Drury-Pinto
On facing different levels of competition ... "I think it was good for us to play both Cal-Santa Barbara and Michigan State. Playing a club team like MSU allows us to see our depth and give a lot of players playing time. I think it makes us better. It forces the better players to prove themselves and not play down to the competition. The games gave us a good mix."
On the ability to produce a Top 20 team in only the second varsity season ... "I think Michigan draws people no matter what with its academics and its athletics so that will always help draw. We've been able to benefit from that with now two great recruiting classes. We've been very fortunate to be able to recruit such great talent locally and then in California, too. I'd be concerned if we weren't in the Top 20 with the talent we have."
On the difficulties recruiting from California ... "It's not too hard. We should be able to continue recruiting successfully in California. We'd like to break into the top eight or 10 this season and hopefully within a year we'll be even higher up."
Freshman Goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong
On the tournament's competition ... "It's exciting. It's giving us a chance to really come together as a team and play against someone other than ourselves. I thought we played well and that's exciting. I think we'll be able to go on to challenge the better schools that are out there."
On the team's unity and playing at home ... "It definitely helps us playing at home to start the season. We are able to pull together as a team and hopefully it will give us momentum heading into the rest of the season."
Senior Two-Meter Maribeth Sitkowski
On the blending of former club players and varsity players .. "We really try to emphasize that we're a team and that we're Michigan. We make an effort to lose the 'club' or varsity' stigma that each girl may have."
On the progress the team can make from the Cal-Santa Barbara game ... "I think first off we showed a lot of progress from last season. We were not as competitive against them last year. We were in the game the whole time and we never trailed by more than one goal. As the No. 15 team I think it was a great accomplishment to play with the No. 6 team the entire game. I think next time we see them that we will be even better prepared."
