Michigan
Bucknell
Wolverines to Play Hoosiers For Third Place at Easterns
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Site: Princeton, N.J. (DeNunzio Pool)
Event: Eastern Championship
Score: #19 Michigan 8, Bucknell 7; #18 Princeton 4, #19 Michigan 3
Records: U-M (24-15), Bucknell (14-16); Princeton (19-9)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Apr. 28-29 -- in Eastern Championship (Princeton, N.J.)
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team split a pair of nailbiters Saturday (April 29) at the Eastern Championship at DeNunzio Pool, defeating Bucknell 8-7 in the first round and falling to host No. 18 Princeton 4-3 in the second round. The Wolverines' 1-1 day earns them a third-round match against Western Division rival Indiana at noon Sunday (April 29) at DeNunzio Pool.
Sophomore Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) scored with 26 seconds left to lift Michigan to the one-goal win over Bucknell in the morning. Freshman Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) netted a hat trick and tied senior Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) for the team lead in steals with six to win the Player of the Game. In the nightcap, Michigan dominated offensively and defensively, but fell short in a 4-3 loss to the host Tigers. Robertson posted five more steals in the contest and Welch scored a pair.
Against Bucknell, Michigan took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a breakaway score from Robertson. Minutes later, Robertson answered Bucknell's tying score when she received a breakaway pass from Davis and buried a shot, giving U-M a 2-1 lead midway through the first period. Frost added to the lead two possessions later. Bucknell was able to cut the lead to 3-2 just before the end of the first on a penalty shot and tied the game to start the second period on a power play.
The Wolverines were not phased, however, as they took advantage of a power-play midway through the second when sophomore Mary Chatigny (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs) sent a rocket into the cage. The Bison once again answered to knot it up at 4-4 as the halftime buzzer sounded.
Michigan exploded for a score on its second possession following the half. Davis sent a pass to a streaking Welch down the middle and Welch connected to give U-M a 5-4 lead. The Bison answered yet again to tie the score at 5-5. Michigan was then the victim of another five-meter penalty shot score by the Bison halfway through the third, but battled back to tie it at 6-6 on a Robertson power-play tally from up top.
The Wolverines stepped up the offensive pressure for the remainder of the game and were rewarded on the counterattack one minute into the final frame. Hyrne sent Welch in all alone on the goalkeeper and Welch skipped a shot into the cage to give Michigan the lead again, 7-6. U-M continued to pressure, but found numerous posts and a hot Bucknell goalkeeper. Bucknell took advantage and tied the score 7-7 at the 3:46 mark of the final period.
Michigan remained poised and unaffected by near misses to set up a last-chance scoring opportunity with under a minute to play. Out of a timeout, Frost posted up just outside two meters, received a pass from Welch and sent a line-drive backhand into the cage with just 26 seconds left, sending the Maize and Blue to the 8-7 triumph and a second-round clash with host Princeton.
Against Princeton, Michigan opened the game with a power play, but missed a chance high from in front. Shortly after, Welch gave Michigan an early 1-0 lead on a skip shot from the middle. Princeton evened the score with just over two minutes remaining and took a lead 2-1 on the ensuing possession on a 6-on-5. The Wolverines roared back to tie the score 2-2 to begin the second on another nifty skip shot from Welch. U-M nearly took the lead again, but the Wolverines' shot railed off the bar and Princeton took advantage, scoring at the end of a 6-on-5 to take a 3-2 lead into the half.
The third period saw no scoring despite Michigan powering through the Tigers defense for numerous scoring chances. In the fourth, the Wolverines once again opened with back-to-back scoring opportunities, but failed on a breakaway and a five-meter penalty shot. The Tigers earned 6-on-5 opportunity with three minutes to pay and capitalized to double the lead to 4-2. Michigan battled back, earning its third power play and the third goal of the game to keep the comeback alive. Hyrne took a pass from Welch in two meters, spun a defender and buried a shot near-side. U-M had one last scoring possession, but had the ball stolen away and fell by one, earning a spot in the third-place game tomorrow.
GAME SUMMARIES
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Bucknell | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Michigan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Scoring
U-M Goals: Leah Robertson 3, Mary Chatigny 2, Shana Welch 2, Carrie Frost.
Bucknell Goals: Aubrey Rowe 3, Elizabeth Jensen, Meagan Gins, Susan Kingerski, Jennifer Swoyer.
U-M Goalkeeper: Kristen Davis (3 saves, 3 assists, 2 steals)
Ejections: U-M 5, Bucknell 4
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Princeton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Scoring
U-M Goals: Shana Welch 2, Julie Hyrne.
PU Goals: Karina Reyner 2, Elyse Colgan, Jazmin Brown.
U-M Goalkeeper: Kristen Davis (5 saves, 3 steals)
Ejections: U-M 7, PU 3
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
