Michigan
USC
Michigan Falls to No. 3 USC in NCAA Quarterfinals
5/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
» Caroline Anderson led the team with two goals and one assist as No. 6 U-M fell, 12-6, to No. 3 USC in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
» Michigan finished its season with a 28-9 overall record.
» The Wolverines competed in their seventh NCAA Championship.
Site: Indianapolis, Ind. (IU Natatorium)
Event: NCAA Championship (Quarterfinals)
Scores: #3 USC 12, #6 Michigan 6
Records: U-M (28-9), USC (29-3)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan water polo team saw another successful season come to a close on Friday (May 12), falling to No. 3 USC, 12-6, in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship at the IU Natatorium.
The Wolverines wrapped up the campaign with a 28-9 overall record and second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. The NCAA switched the format of the NCAA tournament in 2017 to eliminate the consolation bracket.
USC, the 2016 NCAA champion, showed its depth in the win, using a pair of runs to advance to the semifinals. Michigan shot just .171 in the game compared to a .522 shooting percentage for USC. The Trojans also used 6-on-5 opportunities to their advantage, scoring five goals up a player.
The Trojans came out of the game strong, winning the sprint and scoring on its first possession of the game. A little more than a minute later, the Wolverines tied it up when Caroline Anderson placed the ball perfectly with the shot clock winding down.
The Trojans then went on a 6-0 run over the next 12:23. With U-M trailing 7-1, senior Heidi Moreland broke the scoring run. Michigan earned a 6-on-5 opportunity, and some quick passing led to Anderson finding Moreland for a quick shot into the goal. The goal was the 13th of the year for the veteran.
The Wolverines made it 7-3 with a goal 45 seconds into the third period. Sophomore Kim Johnson drilled one in from deep for her 59th goal of the season.
Three straight USC goals killed U-M's momentum and put the game away. Michigan showed its fight for four quarters, winning the final period with three goals compared to USC's two. Freshman Maddy Steere joined Anderson as the only U-M freshmen to post 100 points in a season. Just 35 seconds later, Anderson scored her second of the game to cut the lead to 10-5.
Michigan's final goal came at the 1:50 mark of the fourth quarter as senior Allison Skaggs capped off her terrific U-M career with her team-leading 61st goal of the season.
At the end of the game, head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi put senior Kaitlyn Cozens in so all five seniors on the travel roster appeared in the NCAA Championship. When the game ended, the seniors exchanged hugs with each other and their teammates.
