Weekly Release #9
4/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Upcoming Schedule
Sat-Sun., April 21-22 -- Western Division Championship (Canham Natatorium)
Sat-Sun., April 28-29 -- Eastern Championship (Princeton, N.J.)
Fri-Sun., May 11-13 -- NCAA Championships (Los Alamitos, Calif.)
This Week
The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team (20-14, 6-1 CWPA) returns home to host the Western Division Championship Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines hold the No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 seed Washington & Jefferson at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. A Wolverine win will put them in the 8 p.m. match later in the day, while a loss will place them in a 5:15 p.m. contest. Sunday will feature the championship round. Michigan looks to capture its sixth straight division championship.
The final four seeds will be determined following completion of Wednesday's (April 18) contest between Penn State-Behrend and Slippery Rock.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 21
Game 1 -- No. 1 Seed Indiana vs. No. 8 Seed Penn State-Behrend, 10 a.m.
Game 2 -- No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 seed, 11:15 a.m.
Game 3 -- No. 2 Seed Michigan vs. No. 7 Seed Washington & Jefferson, 12:30 p.m.
Game 4 -- No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed, 1:45 p.m.
Game 5 -- Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 1, 4 p.m.
Game 6 -- Loser of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3, 5:15 p.m.
Game 7 -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 6:45 p.m.
Game 8 -- Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 8 p.m.
Seventh Place -- Loser of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 5, 9:45 a.m.
Fifth Place -- Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 11:00 a.m.
Third Place -- Loser of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 7, 12:30 p.m.
First Place -- Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 2 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents
Indiana -- The Hoosiers (15-12, 7-0 CWPA) have won seven straight and nine of the past 11 entering this weekend. IU returns 13 letterwinners from the 2006 squad, including last season's leading goal scorer, Melissa Soria, who tallied 61 scores and 11 assists. First team CWPA Western Division member Brooke Zimmerman also returns after netting 53 goals and earning 43 helpers last season. Barry King is in his 10th season as head coach of the varsity program and gathered his 200th career victory in a 10-8 win against Brown in the fifth-place game of the 2006 Eastern Championship. Zimmerman and Soria lead the Indiana offense again this season; Zimmerman ranks 20th in the nation in goals (60), while Soria ranks 29th (48). U-M, who is 20-5-1 all-time versus IU, won its 20th game in the all-time series earlier this season at the Michigan Kick-Off on Jan. 27-28, downing the Hoosiers 12-7. On April 7, U-M fell at Indiana in overtime, 9-7. Last season, Michigan defeated the host Hoosiers, 4-3, in the Western Division final.
Indiana on the Web: iuhoosiers.com.
Gannon -- The Golden Knights (12-10, 3-4 CWPA), who placed sixth in the 2006 Western Division standings, have won three of their past four games and rank sixth in the nation in scoring offense. Kat Bucceri (50 g, 14 a) and Annie Greenhill (34 g, 23 a) form a stellar combo on offense for Gannon, while Shannon Bonnsman guards the cage and has posted 96 blocks on 181 shots faced. Bucceri's goal total is good for ninth in the entire nation. Associate Director of Athletics Don Sherman is in his first season at the helm for Gannon. Michigan won this season's meeting 14-9 to move to 8-0 in the all-time series.
Gannon on the Web: www.gannon.edu/sports.
Grove City -- The GC Wolverines (14-15, 4-3 CWPA) have won eight of nine entering the Western Division Championships, with their only loss coming in overtime. Grove City went 9-20 last season (2-5 CWPA, seventh) and posted its fifth Collegiate III National Championship appearance. Junior goalkeeper Keala Walter returns for her junior season to captain the squad after earning honorable mention All-America in both her seasons guarding the cage. Walter's 243 saves this season are the sixth-most in the nation. On offense, Caitlin Ewing is the go-to sniper as she has tallied 41 scores to rank 48th in the nation. Dave Fritz -- in his sixth season -- is head coach of the Wolverines' water polo program. Michigan holds a 10-0 all-time record against its Wolverine foe, winning both meetings this season, defeating GCC 14-3 on March 16 and 19-10 on March 24.
Grove City on the Web: www.gcc.edu/sports.
Mercyhurst -- The Lakers (11-12, 3-4 CWPA) split last weekend in CWPA competition to finish 3-4 in conference. Mercyhurst placed third in the CWPA Western Division in 2006 despite having only one reserve for most of the season, posting a 5-2 conference mark. The Lakers have a pair of 40-goal scorers in Carrie Willison (48 g) and Christine Somera (47 g) to lead the offense; Willison's total is good for 39th in the nation. On the pool deck, Curtis Robinette heads the Mercyhurst water polo program and has brought marked improvement since his arrival, increasing the win totals from eight in his first season to 15 last year. Michigan is 7-0 all-time against Mercyhurst, winning 14-5 earlier this season.
Mercyhurst on the Web: www.mercyhurst.edu/athletics.
Penn State-Behrend -- The Lions (1-16, 0-6 CWPA) are the No. 8 seed in this weekend's competition. Penn State-Behrend, who hosts Slippery Rock Wednesday (April 18) to wrap up the season, went 2-13 overall and 0-7 in the conference last season to finish eighth in the CWPA Western Division. Head coach Joe Tristan, in his fourth season at the helm of the Lion squad, returns five starters from 2006, including team captain Brittany Yost. Yost led the Lions in goals to earn Team MVP last season. Cara Ludwig also returns for her senior season as the career leader in goals scored for the blue and white. U-M is a perfect 9-0 all-time against PSU-Behrend, winning this season's matchup 23-2.
Penn State Behrend on the Web: www.pennstatebehrend.psu.edu/athletics.
Slippery Rock -- Riding a two-game win streak, the Rock (5-13, 3-3 CWPA) completes their regular season at Penn State-Behrend on Wednesday (April 18). SRU went 16-17-1 (4-3, CWPA) in 2006 and finished fourth in the Western Division. 2006 leading scorer Erika Brunner, who netted 55 goals last season, returns to lead the squad again. The senior sniper has 57 goals to rank 15th in the nation. The teams fourth-leading scorer from 2006, Beth Choike, also returns, while sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Surbaugh guards the SRU net. Surbaugh had an impressive rookie campaign (183 saves and 51 steals), posting 202 blocks in 17 games to rank 17th in the nation in saves. Jim Yeamans heads the Slippery Rock women's water polo program, which has lost to the Wolverines in all 12 all-time meetings. U-M downed the Rock 18-5 earlier this season.
Slippery Rock on the Web: www.rockathletics.com.
Washington & Jefferson -- The Presidents (6-7, 1-6 CWPA) hold the seventh seed and will face Michigan in the first round of the Western Championships. W&J posted a 7-14 record last season and a 0-7 mark in CWPA action, but a strong Western Championship performance gave them a fifth-place finish in the eight-team league. Alicia Sutton, last season's leading scorer, returns after scoring a team-high 37 goals and dishing out a team-best 34 assists in 2006. Brandi Shoupe also returns for her senior season; Shoupe led the squad in steals with 49 last season. Bob Filander, who served as an assistant for the past four seasons for both the men's and women's water polo teams, is the first full-time head coach at Washington & Jefferson. The Maize and Blue are a perfect 10-0 all-time against the Presidents, claiming victory 22-4 earlier this season.
Washington & Jefferson on the Web: http://www.washjeff.edu/athletics.aspx.
Wolverines Look to Continue Western Division Dominance
The Maize and Blue hope to claim its sixth straight CWPA division championship this weekend. The streak began in 2002 when U-M downed Princeton for the Southern division title. Michigan then claimed another Southern crown with a 6-2 win over Indiana in 2003. In 2004, U-M won a double-overtime contest, 5-4, over Indiana to earn the Western division crown. In 2005, he Wolverines took care of business in overtime again, 8-7, over the Hoosiers for the Western crown. Last season, the Wolverines won a thrilling 4-3 decision to earn their fifth straight title at Indiana.
Welch Remains Atop Wolverines in Scoring
Senior Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), the program's all-time leader in career points and goals, continues to increase her school-record and team-leading point total in 2007. After posting 102 points (75 g, 27 a) last season, Welch has notched a team-best 111 this season on a team-high 73 goals and 38 assists. Her assist total ranks second on the team and fourth all-time for most helpers in a season at U-M, while her goal total is the third-highest in program history.
Hyrne an Offensive Machine in Sophomore Season
Sophomore Julie Hyrne (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty), who currently ranks second on the Wolverines in goals (70) and points (99), is one point shy of taking sole possession of third in Michigan history for points in a season. Her goal total is also the fourth-highest ever in the seven-year history of the program.
Welch, Hyrne as Consistent as They Come
Shana Welch and Julie Hyrne have each notched at least one point in every game played this season, while scoring in all but one game. The two have battled for the team lead in goals all season with Welch taking the current lead and looking to lead U-M in scores for the fourth straight season. Nationally, Welch ranks seventh in scoring with her 73 goals, while Hyrne ranks eighth with her 70 scores.
Ellison Saves Best for Last
Senior Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto) has tallied 31 points on 20 goals and 11 helpers this season. All three of those totals are single-season career highs. Meanwhile, Ellison needs just four more points to reach 100 for her career and currently ranks third all-time for most career drawn ejections as a Wolverine.
Chatigny Lending Helping Hand, Continues to Shine
Sophomore Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) continues to work her way up the record books with her team-leading 40 assists. She currently ranks third for the most assists in a season by a U-M player, and is three assists shy of tying Erin Brown (2002-05) for second on the list (43, 2004). Her assist total is more than twice her freshman-year total of 16.
Frost Finds Groove in 2007
Sophomore Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) has surpassed her freshman season totals in points, goals and assists this season. Her 28 goals and 22 assists give her 50 points this season, which rank fifth on the team.
Haley, Hernandez Contribute to Stellar Sophomore Class
Sophomores Kelsey Haley (Portola Valley, Calif./Menlo) and Sharayah Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) have taken advantage of increased roles this season as each has posted single-season career highs. Haley's 27 points and 24 assists best her 2006 totals of 24 and 18, respectively, while Hernandez has buried 22 shots compared to 21 last season.
Davis Steps Up '07 Production
Sophomore Kristen Davis (Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park) has tallied 205 saves, 31 assists and 50 steals in 988 minutes in the cage this season -- all of which are single-season career highs. Davis set the U-M record for assists and steals by a goalkeeper as a freshman in 2006 and has eclipsed both of those marks with her totals in the 2007 campaign. Her next game will be her 34th of the season, matching her game total from last season.
Robertson Tops Among Freshmen in Points
Freshman Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) continues to lead all freshman in points this season after tallying three at Indiana (April 7). Her two goals and assist in that contest give her 23 goals and 33 helpers for 56 points. She already shattered the program record for steals in a season and is nearing 100 with her 83 thefts in 2007.
Best Ever Offense for 2007 Wolverines
Michigan has netted 363 goals this season to rank seventh in the nation in team scoring, putting the team within striking distance of the program record of 399 for a season, set in 2006. U-M broke the points and assists record during the ASU Invitational (March 31-April 1). Michigan has 717 points and 347 assists on the season, breaking the previous school records of 700 points and 341 assists, set in 2006.
Wolverines Love Gettin' Tricky
Michigan has tallied 33 hat tricks in 2007, including 18 performances of four or more goals. U-M hat trick totals: Julie Hyrne 11, Shana Welch 9, Mary Chatigny 3, Leah Robertson 2, Carrie Frost 2, Farren Rixter 2, Casie Kelly 1, Sarah Davila 1, Michelle Keeley 1, Allison Gorine 1. Welch owns a program-best 58 career hat tricks.
Maize and Blue Enjoy First and Third Period
The Wolverines own a first-period scoring margin of plus-41 (104-63) and a third-period margin of plus-39 (106-67) compared to plus-7 (79-72) in the second and plus-18 (80-62) in the fourth. U-M also enjoys slightly better second-half play, outscoring opponents 186-129 (plus-57) compared to 183-135 (plus-48) in the first half.
Did You Know
Freshman Terri Bukofzer (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson), sophomores Mary Chatigny and Julie Hyrne and junior Michelle Keeley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) are the only Wolverines to have seen time in every game this season. Keeley, in her second season at U-M, played in all 41 games for Michigan last season.
Wolverine Streaks
Point Streaks
Mary Chatigny -- four games (one goal and four assists)
Julie Hyrne -- 34 games (70 goals and 29 assists)
Leah Robertson -- seven games (three goals and seven assists)
Shana Welch -- 33 games (73 goals and 38 assists)
Goal Streaks
Julie Hyrne -- 20 games (47 goals)
Shana Welch -- 11 games (30 goals)
Assist Streaks
Leah Robertson -- five games (five assists)
Milestone Watch
Shana Welch needs five steals for 200 in her career. She also needs four scores to move into second on the single-season goals list at U-M.
Wesley Ellison needs four points for 100 in her career.
Michelle Keeley needs two more goals to surpass her single-season, career high set last season (24). She is also three goals shy of 50 for her career.
Carrie Frost is six points shy of 100 for her career.
Julie Hyrne is one point from 100 on the season, which would place her third all-time for points in a season and two from second place (Shana Welch, 102, 2006).
Hyrne needs one goal to crack the top five in career goals at U-M. After scoring 38 times as a freshman and netting 70 this season, Hyrne has posted 108 scores in her career, which is one shy of Erin Brown (2002-05) for fifth on the career goals list at Michigan.
Sharayah Hernandez is eight points shy of 100 for her career.
U-M Loses Epic OT Battle as Indiana Grabs Top Seed
Michigan fell 9-7 in overtime to the Indiana Hoosiers on April 7 at IU's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. As a result, U-M will hold the second seed at the Western Division Championship. Julie Hyrne led the offense with her team-high 11th hat trick of the season, while goalkeeper Kristen Davis equaled a career high with 11 blocks.
The Anderson Files
Head coach Matt Anderson is in his fifth season at the helm of the University of Michigan water polo program. In his five seasons at Michigan, Anderson has brought a hard-nosed playing philosophy and a defensive intensity to the Wolverines that have led to a 130-59 (.688) record and a quartet of CWPA Division titles. In his first season as the head coach of Michigan water polo, Anderson led the program to a 22-10 record, a third-place finish at the Eastern Championships and its second straight Southern Division crown. In 2004, Anderson guided Michigan to a school-record 30 victories as well as setting records in points (665), assists (291) and goals against average (4.61). Anderson also coached U-M to its third consecutive CWPA Division Championship crown, earning CWPA Western Division Coach of the Year honors. In 2005, Anderson led U-M to Western Division Championship and Eastern Championship titles and the program's first NCAA Championship win. He also was named Eastern Championship Coach of the Year in 2005.
Last season, Anderson coached U-M to its third straight Eastern Championship final and a 29-12 record, marking his third straight season with 29 or more wins. He also earned his 100th career win at Michigan in a 15-6 win against Slippery Rock on March 19. Anderson was named CWPA Western Division Coach of the Year for the third year in a row after winning the program's fifth straight division title in a thrilling 4-3 win over Indiana in the finals of the Western Division Championship.
On the Horizon ...
Michigan will compete next at the Eastern Championships Saturday and Sunday (April 28-29) at the Tigers' DeNunzio Pool in Princeton, N.J. The Wolverines will find out their seed following completion of this weekend's Western Championships. The winner of the Eastern Championships earns the CWPA bid to the NCAA Championships, held at Long Beach State from May 11-13.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
