Michigan
Indiana
NCAA Bound: Michigan Tops Indiana for Eastern Crown
5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 11 University of Michigan women's water polo team won its second Eastern Championship title of the past four season with an 8-7 victory over No. 10 Indiana on Sunday (May 1) at Indiana's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. With the victory, the Wolverines advance to the NCAA Championship, which they will host May 13-15 in Canham Natatorium.
Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) led Michigan with 11 saves in the game and Meg Knudtsen (Los Altos, Calif./St. Francis HS) and Megan Hausmann (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS) each scored two goals in the victory, including the game-winner for Hausmann with 1:48 to play in the match. Jo Antonsen (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura HS) also helped the offensive effort with a goal and a pair of assists.
After winning the opening sprint, the Wolverines scored on their first possession of the game to take an early 1-0 lead. Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS) found Knudtsen for a shot from five meters out that found lower right corner of the Hoosier net. Michigan then pushed its advantage to two goals at 4:01 of the first period with a marker by Antonsen from six meters out. Antonsen received a pass from Erin Brown (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's HS) at the point and sent the shot to the right side of the net for the goal. Indiana, however, answered with just over one minute left in the period to make the score 2-1 heading into the second quarter.
The Hoosiers quickly tied the game at 2-2 with a goal by Kandace Waldthaler with 5:37 to play in the half. The Wolverines responded with two quick goals by Kristin Hoogenboom (Portland, Ore./Sunset HS) and Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) at 4:47 and 3:13 of the second quarter. Hausmann found Hoogenboom alone in front of the net following an Indiana ejection for the 3-2 lead. Welch then gave Michigan a 4-2 advantage with a counterattack goal from Armstrong.
Indiana quickly answered, scoring on its next possession to make the score 4-3, but the Wolverines were able to regain their two-goal lead with 1:43 to play in the half with a goal by Knudtsen. Antonsen found Knudtsen on a crossing pass to the left side and Knudtsen send the shot to the right side for the goal. After 14 minutes of play, U-M held a 5-3 advantage.
Indiana scored the only two goals of the third period to tie the score at 5-5 heading into the fourth quarter. The Wolverines came out strong in the fourth period to reestablish their two-goal lead midway through the period. Narsai scored a power-play goal at 5:53 of the fourth quarter and Hausmann netted her first marker of the game on the six-on-five to give U-M a 7-5 advantage with 4:52 to play.
Once again, however, Indiana was able to tie the game with back-to-back goals to make the score 7-7 with 2:41 to remaining in the game. One minute later, the Wolverines earned an ejection on the Hoosiers and went on the power play with just under two minutes to play. After receiving a crossing pass on the left side of the net, Welch found Hausmann in front of the cage for the game-winning goal and an 8-7 lead. The Wolverines held on for the remainder of the contest to seal the victory.
With the victory, Michigan (28-12) earned the CWPA's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship on May 13-15 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
GAME SUMMARY
| Score by Periods | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
Scoring
Michigan Goals: Megan Hausmann 2, Meg Knudtsen 2, Sheetal Narsai, Shana Welch, Jo Antonsen, Kristin Hoogenboom. Indiana Goals: Kandace Waldthaler 3, Emily Schmitt 2, Janice Pardy, Kristin Zernicke. Ejections: U-M 4, IU 6. Goalie Saves: Betsey Armstrong (U-M) 11, Jessica Goldner (IU) 5.
2005 Eastern Championship All-Tournament Team
| FIRST TEAM Diana Livermore, Brown Kate Chambers, Hartwick Kandace Waldthaler, Indiana Bronwen Knox, Hartwick Elyse Colgan, Princeton Shana Welch, Michigan Betsey Armstrong, Michigan | SECOND TEAM Krista Peterson, Indiana Carolyn Conway, Indiana Meg Blitzer, Bucknell Jessica Goldner, Indiana Teresa Codini, Harvard Sheetal Narsai, Michigan Meg Knudtsen, Michigan |
Most Valuable Player: Betsey Armstrong, Michigan
Richard Hunkler Coach of the Year: Matt Anderson, Michigan
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Matt Anderson
On winning the Eastern Championship ... "If you had looked at our team after the Bucknell or Princeton game, none of the girls were smiling because their whole focus was on winning the tournament. This team has really come together. I don't think we have the most talent on the team, but we have the most team talent. This team is into being a team. I have never had a group that has bonded like this group."
On the seniors ... "They had an experience their freshman year and they probably weren't ready to handle the expectations that followed. The reality is that we are such a better team. It just goes back to the Michigan motto, 'Those who stay will be champions.' These seven seniors are going out with the most successful four-year run on the East Coast. They realize what it means to wear the Maize and Blue and be a part of that Michigan tradition."
N O T E S
With their victory, the Wolverines will advance to the NCAA Championship for the second time in the last four seasons. Michigan is the first CWPA school to play in two NCAA Championships.
Michigan won its second Eastern Championship in the past four season.
Betsey Armstrong made 11 saves against Indiana to record her 14th game of the season with 10 or more saves. Armstrong now has 66 career games with 10 or more saves.
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
