Michigan
Washington & Jefferson
Seniors Guide Michigan to Western Division Final Game
4/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Western Division Championship
Scores: #19 Michigan 19, Washington & Jefferson 2; #19 Michigan 21, Slippery Rock 5
Records: U-M (22-14), W&J (6-8), SRU (6-14)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Apr. 22 -- vs. Indiana in Western Division Championship (Canham Natatorium), 2 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Wesley Ellison (Portola Valley, Calif./Palo Alto) scored seven goals and senior Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) netted five on Senior Day (Saturday, April 21) to lead the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team to wins over Washington & Jefferson (19-2) and Slippery Rock (21-5) on day one of the CWPA Western Division Championship at Canham Natatorium. As a result, Michigan will face Indiana in the championship final tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Ellison and sophomore Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) each notched four goals in the morning win over W&J, while freshman goalkeeper Kimberly Gero (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) made a career-high 10 saves. In the evening match, sophomore Julie Hyrne (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) notched a turkey in the hat with her six goals and Welch netted five markers in a victory over Slippery Rock.
Michigan put the Presidents away early in the morning contest, reeling off three straight goals to begin the first quarter. U-M then answered a W&J marker with two more scores to take a 5-1 lead into the second. Ellison and Frost each found the back of the cage twice in the opening period, while freshman Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) scored on a breakaway for her first of two goals on the day.
In the second period, the Wolverines once again bounced back following an early Presidents score, netting four straight markers to close out the half up 9-2. Frost completed her four-goal day with another two-goal period.
Freshman Farren Rixter (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) drew a five-meter penalty shot on Michigan's first possession of the second half and sophomore Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) converted the chance, sparking Michigan to a 7-0 third-quarter scoring advantage. Ellison scored twice on the counterattack to lead all scorers in the period, helping U-M to a 16-2 lead entering the final quarter.
The Wolverines mustered three more tallies in the fourth as sophomore Carrie Stover (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and junior Michelle Keeley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) each scored her second goal of the day to ice the 19-2 win. As a result, Michigan moved to the semifinal round to face Slippery Rock.
Against the Rock, Michigan faced an abnormal four-goalie defense to start the game but broke through with a goal apiece by seniors Ellison and Welch early in the period. Hyrne then struck three straight times inside seven meters to build a 5-0 lead. Frost and Chatigny added goals late and the period ended with U-M up 7-1.
The Wolverines faced the same four-goal defense to start the second period, and once again it was no match for Michigan's potent offense as the Maize and Blue blasted the Rock for five more scores. Hyrne led the way, scoring twice, while Ellison, Chatigny and freshman Allison Gorine (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) each netted one.
U-M finished off Slippery Rock with five third-period scores and a trio of fourth-quarter tallies. Welch netted four of her own to lead the offense in the third, and freshman Logan Bjorkman (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley) scored twice in the fourth to complete her hat trick as the Wolverines cruised to the 21-5 win.
The Wolverines go for their sixth straight division championship tomorrow (Sunday, April 22) as they take on Indiana in the title game at 2 p.m. at Canham Natatorium.
GAME SUMMARIES
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Washington & Jefferson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Michigan | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
Scoring
U-M Goals: Wesley Ellison 4, Carrie Frost 4, Michelle Keeley 2, Leah Robertson 2, Carrie Stover 2, Mary Chatigny 1, Julie Hyrne 1, Casie Kelly 1, Sarah Davila 1, Sharayah Hernandez. W&J Goals: Brandi Shoupe 1, Alicia Sutton 1. U-M Goalkeeper: Kimberly Gero (10 saves, 1 assist, 1 steal). Ejections: W&J 5, U-M 4.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Slippery Rock | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Michigan | 7 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
Scoring
U-M Goals: Julie Hyrne 6, Shana Welch 5, Wesley Ellison 3, Logan Bjorkman 3, Mary Chatigny 2, Allison Gorine, Carrie Frost. SRU Goals: Erika Brunner 2, Ashley Goodwill, Beth Choike. U-M Goalkeeper: Kristen Davis (6 saves, 2 assists, 1 steal); Gero (3 saves). Ejections: U-M 2, SRU 7.
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
