Hoosiers Fall at No. 7 Michigan, 11-6

Saturday, March 25

Ann Arbor, MI

11 AM

Indiana University

Michigan

3/25/2017 4:42:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

Box Score (PDF)

Young, Matthews tally two; Gaudreault stops 13 with stunning second half

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana's water polo squad embarked on the final stretch of the 2017 regular season, the CWPA weekends, with Saturday's standalone game against No. 7 Michigan. A fierce rivalry game between the No. 15 Hoosiers (13-7, 0-1) and Wolverines (18-8, 1-0) had a thrilling goal exchange in the second half, but Michigan's strong start propelled them to an 11-6 win over Indiana.

Juniors Kelly Matthews and Sarah Young led the Hoosier offense with two goals apiece while freshman Joelle Nacouzi scored once and dished a pair of assists. Goalkeeper Jessica Gaudreault made 13 saves, including a blocked five-meter penalty shot, in one of her top performances of the season.

Game 20: Michigan 11, Indiana 6
IU: 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 6
MICH: 4 – 3 – 3 – 1 – 11
Indiana Goals: Matthews (2), Young (2), Beadle (1), Nacouzi (1)
Michigan Goals: Sellers (3), K. Johnson (3), Steere (2), Anderson (2), Skaggs (1)
Goalkeepers: Gaudreault (13 saves), Ritner (10 saves)

Indiana got their first goal in the early portion of the first period, answering Julia Sellers' opening score for Michigan. Nacouzi threaded a pass to Jennifer Beadle on Indiana's ensuing possession to tie the game at 1-1.

The Wolverines responded with a 6-0 scoring run that trickled into the second period, ending with Maddy Steere's back-to-back scores from a five-meter penalty and a 6-on-5 attack.

The Hoosiers, down but not out, ended the half with two consecutive scores. Nacouzi connected with Sarah Young for her second assist after Young placed a backhand inside the right post. On Indiana's next possession, Nacouzi delivered a transition attack into the back of the net, cutting the halftime deficit to 7-3.

Indiana and Michigan played a fairly balanced second half upon returning to the pool. Matthews answered back-to-back goals by Michigan with an even strength score midway through the third period. The goal extended Matthews' streak to 16 consecutive games with at least one score. It pushed the Hoosiers within five, but Kim Johnson's late score gave Michigan a 10-4 lead entering the final period.

Young scored her second of the day on a power play to start the fourth period, taking advantage of an opening sprint exclusion to send a high skip shot into the cage. After another score by Michigan, Gaudreault stepped up to make a confident five-meter penalty save. On the other end, Matthews converted her penalty shot, marking her eighth game this year with multiple scores.

Up Next: CWPA Weekend 2
Fri., April 8 – Sat., April 9 • Hartwick College • Oneonta, N.Y.
4/8 – No. 15 Indiana (13-7, 0-1) vs. No. 10 Princeton (16-2, 1-0) – 1 p.m. ET
4/8 – No. 15 Indiana (13-7, 0-1) vs. No. 25 Bucknell (11-11, 0-1) – 4:30 p.m. ET
4/9 – No. 15 Indiana (13-7, 0-1) vs. George Washington (13-8, 1-0) – 9 a.m. ET

The gauntlet of CWPA round robin play hits the Hoosiers in two weekends. Starting off, Indiana and 10^th-ranked Princeton enter a game that features two of the top goalkeepers in the western hemisphere. Gaudreault, Canada's senior goalkeeper, will meet United States starter Ashleigh Johnson for their second-ever encounter as collegiate players.

The Hoosiers will close the Saturday schedule against No. 25 Bucknell, presumably ending a seven-game clip against top-25 foes. After that, they'll enter the pool Sunday morning to take on George Washington.

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