Michigan Sweeps Tourney, Pushes Win Streak to Seven

Sunday, March 10

Slippery Rock, Pa.

11:30 AM

Michigan

Penn State-Behrend

3/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: Slippery Rock, Pa.
Event: Southern Division Tournament
Scores: #13 Michigan 17, Penn State-Behrend 2;
    #13 Michigan 13, Slippery Rock 8
Records: U-M (12-10, 12-0 CWPA)
Next Event: Friday, March 15 -- vs. Michigan State (Canham Natatorium), 7 p.m. (exhibition)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The No. 13-ranked Michigan women's water polo team extended its winning streak to seven games by winning its final two contests at the Southern Division Tournament on Sunday (March 10). U-M posted wins over Penn State-Behrend by a score of 17-2 and Slippery Rock 13-8. Senior Jen Crisman (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison HS) led the Wolverines at both ends of the pool by scoring her first career hat trick in the opener and tying a school record with four steals against Slippery Rock.

As in the Saturday games, Michigan (12-10, 12-0 CWPA) jumped out to an early lead over Penn StateCBehrend by scoring nine goals in the opening period and shutting out the Lions' offense. Each team scored once in the second quarter to make the score 10-1 at the half. The Maize and Blue offense came alive again in the third quarter as it found the back of the Lions' net five times. Two more goals in the final seven minutes wrapped up the scoring for the Wolverines. Penn State-Behrend was only able to muster one additional score to give Michigan the 17-2 victory. Jessica Falarski (Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont HS) earned her second straight start in net and notched 11 saves in the win.

The final game of the tournament would prove to be the most difficult for the Wolverines as they took on the host team, Slippery Rock. U-M took a 5-0 lead after one period of play, but the Rock stormed back with four goals in the second quarter to Michigan's one to close to within 6-4 at the intermission. The Maize and Blue returned to form after the break by holding the Rock scoreless in the third stanza while posting four markers in the quarter. The Rock made another comeback bid by finding the back of the Michigan goal four times in the final period, but the Wolverine offense was able to match them with three goals to preserve the win.

Abbi Rowe (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), Maribeth Sitkowski (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep), Chelsea Kay (Laguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Hills HS) and Stephanie Rupp (Hemet, Calif./Hemet HS) each scored twice in the victory. Erin Brown (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS) was also key to Michigan's victory as she drew four ejections on Slippery Rock, leading to prime scoring opportunities for the Wolverines.

Michigan next returns home for an exhibition game against Michigan State. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. on Friday (March 15) in Canham Natatorium.

GAME SUMMARIES