Michigan
Mercyhurst
Wolverines Breeze Past Mercyhurst, Gannon
4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
April 18, 2015
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center)
Score: #16 Michigan 16, Mercyhurst 2; #16 Michigan 21, Gannon 5
Records: U-M (17-11, 7-1 CWPA), Mercyhurst (10-10, 2-6 CWPA), Gannon (2-12)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 19 -- vs. Bucknell (Bloomington, Ind.), 11:40 a.m.
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan water polo team cruised to a pair of lopsided victories, defeating Mercyhurst, 16-2, and Gannon, 21-5, on Saturday (April 18) at Indiana's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The Wolverines extended their win streak to four in a row.
Freshman Laura Jimenez boasted six goals on the day, including a five-goal effort Gannon, and three assists, while junior Ali Thomason netted five goals -- four in the opener against Mercyhurst. Sophomore Jamie Nolan posted five goals, earning a hat trick against Gannon. Freshman Caroline Anderson also recorded a hat trick against the Golden Knights and three assists on the afternoon.
Junior Julia Campbell and sophomore Emily Browning split time evenly in the Wolverine cage; Campbell tallied nine saves on the day, including seven against Gannon, while Browning registered six. Browning also tallied a pair of assists.
Holding just a 2-1 advantage after the first quarter in CWPA play against Mercyhurst, the Wolverines surged with six goals in the second. U-M scored on counter attacks in rapid succession midway through the frame before Thomason scored on a pair of five-meter penalties in the final 90 seconds to push her team's lead to 8-1 at halftime.
The Wolverines kept the momentum rolling with a pair of 6-on-5 tallies early in the third and again surged in the fourth with seven goals, including two on 6-on-5 opportunities and four on counter attacks. Thomason completed her hat trick in the opening minute of the period and added another on a power play less than two minutes later. Freshman Addi Halligan scored two in the contest, more than doubling her season goal total, while junior Emily Sejna netted her second goal of the season on a fourth-quarter counter attack.
Michigan dominated the second slate from start to finish, jumping out to a sizable early lead with five goals in the first quarter and eight more in the second. Jimenez tallied four times in the second frame to earn her second hat trick in six games, scoring on the perimeter, on a 6-on-5 opportunity and twice on counter attack.
Jimenez added another goal off a third-quarter counter -- part of a six-goal frame for the Wolverines. Anderson netted two in the third to complete her team-best eighth hat trick of the season, while Nolan, who scored twice on counter attacks in the first quarter, completed her trick on a fourth-quarter 6-on-5 opportunity.
The Wolverines will close out the regular season tomorrow (Sunday, April 19), taking on Bucknell at 11:40 a.m. at Indiana's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
GAME SUMMARIES
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan (16-11) | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| Mercyhurst (10-10) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
MU Goals: Meagan Marques, Annie Blackman
Saves: U-M 5 (Julia Campbell 2, Emily Browning 3), MU N/A (Jesse Sworden)
Ejections: U-M 8, MU 11
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan (17-11) | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 21 |
| Gannon (2-12) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
GU Goals: Liz Barr 2, Alison Cooney 2, Grace Villano
Saves: U-M 10 (Emily Browning 3, Julia Campbell 7), GU N/A (Emily Rodriguez)
Ejections: U-M 7, GU 8
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (763) 763-4423
