Robertson Sets Steals Mark; U-M Wins Two in Maryland

Saturday, February 17

College Park, Md.

9:15 AM

Michigan

Princeton

2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo

Site: College Park, Md. (Campus Recreation Center Natatorium)
Event: Terrapin Invitational
Scores: #16 Michigan 10, #17 Princeton 8; #16 Michigan 10, Maryland 7
Records: U-M (7-3)
Next U-M Events: Sunday, Feb. 18 -- vs. George Washington (10:30 a.m), vs. Bucknell (2:45 p.m.) at Terrapin Invitational (College Park, Md.)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Freshman Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) posted 15 steals in two games Saturday (Feb. 17), including a school-record nine in the evening contest against host Maryland, to help the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team to a 2-0 first day at the Terrapin Invitational at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium.

Michigan downed No. 17 Princeton, 10-8, in the morning match and defeated Maryland, 10-7, in the night cap. Sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Davis (Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park) played solid in the cage, recording 17 blocks, including a career-high 10 against Princeton.

In the morning contest, the Wolverines got a pair of goals from four different players to prevail over the Tigers, who went 5-for-10 on the power play. Sophomore Julie Hyrne (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) scored a five-meter penalty shot and a power-play tally in the first period, but three Princeton goals gave the Tigers a 3-2 advantage entering the second. Senior Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto) earned U-M a 4-3 lead with back-to-back goals out of two meters to begin the second period. However, Princeton tallied two markers just before the half, forcing Michigan to go into halftime down 5-4.

The Wolverines stormed the water to start the second half as they have all season, building an 8-5 lead. Freshman Allison Gorine (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) became the third Wolverine to score twice as she netted back-to-back markers with strong individual play outside of two meters. Sophomore Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) followed on a breakaway and junior Michelle Keeley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) converted the first of her two scores in the game, giving Michigan the three-goal advantage.

Two Princeton 6-on-5 conversions cut the lead to 8-7 to begin the fourth quarter before senior Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) extended Michigan's lead on a low rocket from beyond seven meters. The Tigers continued to threaten, scoring on their next possession, but Keeley's goal from long range with less than a minute to play sealed the two-goal Wolverine win.

Robertson's record game sparked Michigan's three-goal win over host Maryland. Four different Wolverine scorers opened up a 4-2 U-M lead in the first quarter. Ellison started the scoring out of two meters on Michigan's first possession, and freshman Logan Bjorkman (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley) finished the barrage with the Wolverines' second 6-on-5 tally of the period. In the second period, sophomores Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) and Hyrne netted early markers to extend U-M's lead to 6-2 before a late Maryland score ended the half.

The pesky Terrapins cut the lead to 6-5 with two early third-period goals, but the Wolverines pulled away as Robertson converted following a restart and Hyrne scored on the power play, giving Michigan an 8-6 advantage heading into the final period.

Maryland moved to within one again on its first offensive possession, but Frost and Welch teamed up for two straight scores and the Michigan defense remained steady, stifling the Terrapin offense the rest of the way. U-M's ninth goal came on a counterattack feed from Welch to Frost, and Frost then returned the favor, setting up Welch for a score from left of the cage that iced the 10-7 triumph.

The Wolverines return to the pool tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 18) for the second and final day of the Terrapin Invitational at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium. U-M takes on George Washington at 10:30 a.m and Bucknell at 2:45 p.m.

GAME SUMMARIES

Game 1	1	2	3	4	F
Michigan	2	2	4	2	10
Princeton	3	2	0	3	8

Scoring
U-M Goals: Allison Gorine 2, Wesley Ellison 2, Julie Hyrne 2, Michelle Keeley 2, Shana Welch, Mary Chatigny. Princeton Goals: Elyse Colgan 3, Lauren Sabb 3, Helen Meigs, Kara Murphy. U-M Goalkeeper: Kristen Davis (7 saves, 1 steal, 1 assist). Ejections: U-M 10, Princeton 5

Game 2	1	2	3	4	F
Michigan	4	2	2	2	10
Maryland	2	1	3	1	7

Scoring
U-M Goals: Carrie Frost 3, Julie Hyrne 2, Wesley Ellison, Sharayah Hernandez, Logan Bjorkman, Leah Robertson, Shana Welch. Maryland Goals: Shannon Simerly 2, Bryndis Klein, Christen Vagts, Rachel Jordan, Elizabeth Hopkins, Blaise Stanicic. U-M Goalkeeper: Kristen Davis (10 saves). Ejections: U-M 9, Maryland 8.