Saturday, March 31
Bloomington, IN
11 AM
Indiana University
7
vs
9
Michigan
Hoosiers Fall to No. 9 Michigan on Senior Day
3/31/2018 2:23:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Gaudreault leads superb senior effort in final home game
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The annual rivalry clash between Indiana's water polo team and the Michigan Wolverines delivered what was promised. A defensive struggle with neither team reaching double figures. A valiant effort by the IU senior class in the final home game of their careers. A series of momentum swings that had both teams out of their comfort zone.
But the No. 9 Wolverines (23-7, 1-0) had the last word, outscoring the No. 13 Hoosiers (20-6, 1-2) by one in the final quarter to hand Indiana a 9-7 defeat.
"The senior class performed as they have every single day I've been coaching them. They put their heart and soul into everything," Indiana head coach Ryan Castle said. "I was impressed with their effort; they never gave up. We lost to a good team on a couple of turnovers who converted some opportunities. It was a battle. I look back on this game and know that we were nearly there. That's what we want to build on for the future."
Game 25: No. 13 Indiana 7, No. 9 Michigan 9 // Box Score
Team 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 | F
MICH: 2 – 0 – 4 – 3 | 9
IU: 1 – 3 – 1 – 2 | 7
Indiana clawed back from an early deficit after the Wolverines scored twice in the first three minutes. On the first IU power play of the game, sophomore Joelle Nacouzi found Emily Powell for their opening score with two minutes left in the first quarter.
The Hoosiers turned the tide in their favor, scoring three more before halftime while holding Michigan scoreless in the second quarter. After two empty possessions, Kelly Matthews converted an unassisted goal, the 600th by the four graduating seniors in the field. Sarah Young netted a blind backhander on IU's next possession to give Indiana their first lead, at 3-2.
Senior Jessica Gaudreault provided eight of her 12 saves in the first half to spark an outstanding defensive effort. Her seventh save prompted IU to call a time out that set up Karrie Kozokar's goal that gave the Hoosiers a two-point lead at the break.
"It was our defense that made them wobble a bit when they went on defense," Castle said. We tried some different things that we've been tinkering with, like how Karrie posted up and was able to get a great shot. Considering that we played without Mollie Williams and Jennifer Beadle, this was a battle. I'm super proud of the kids."
Michigan flipped the script with the first two goals after half and four total scores in the third quarter. Megan Abarta delivered a successful mid-range attempt to keep IU within a point as teams headed to the final frame.
Young and Kozokar helped the Hoosiers trade blows with Michigan down the stretch as both found their second goal of the game in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines maintained their one-point advantage and added to it with back-to-back scores in less than a minute.
"When you have the explosive firepower that both teams have, we're going to have a high-scoring game with a huge emphasis on defense, and that's what we saw," Castle added. "The Michigan defense is tough to break, and we didn't break it often enough."
The defeat didn't dampen the senior day experience for the seven Hoosiers who will graduate in May. Gaudreault, Young, Matthews, Kozokar, Sarah Myers, Jennifer Beadle, and Mackenzie Rosenthal took a moment before the game to recognize the moment, their final game in Bloomington as IU water polo players, and the environment the fans and Crabb Band created for them.
"I would've liked to give them the win that they worked hard for," Castle commented after the game. "I'm incredibly grateful to the Crabb Band; they make this venue amazing. The referees hate officiating our games when the Crabb Band is here because they make it so loud. It's an awesome venue and I think it's one of the best in the country."
Up Next: The Home Stretch
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8 • Blodgett Pool • Boston, Mass.
The Hoosiers end their regular season with a five-game gauntlet on the East Coast, all against CWPA foes. Indiana begins their weekend on Friday night with a game at Brown before heading to the Atlantic shore for four games at Harvard.
Indiana's upcoming weekend schedule is as follows
Friday, April 6 • Providence, R.I.
4:00 p.m. ET – Indiana at Brown
Saturday, April 7 • Boston, Mass.
2:00 p.m. ET – Indiana vs. Princeton
7:00 p.m. ET – Indiana at Harvard
Sunday, April 8 • Boston, Mass.
9:15 a.m. ET – Indiana vs. George Washington
2:15 p.m. ET – Indiana vs. Bucknell
But the No. 9 Wolverines (23-7, 1-0) had the last word, outscoring the No. 13 Hoosiers (20-6, 1-2) by one in the final quarter to hand Indiana a 9-7 defeat.
"The senior class performed as they have every single day I've been coaching them. They put their heart and soul into everything," Indiana head coach Ryan Castle said. "I was impressed with their effort; they never gave up. We lost to a good team on a couple of turnovers who converted some opportunities. It was a battle. I look back on this game and know that we were nearly there. That's what we want to build on for the future."
Game 25: No. 13 Indiana 7, No. 9 Michigan 9 // Box Score
Team 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 | F
MICH: 2 – 0 – 4 – 3 | 9
IU: 1 – 3 – 1 – 2 | 7
Indiana clawed back from an early deficit after the Wolverines scored twice in the first three minutes. On the first IU power play of the game, sophomore Joelle Nacouzi found Emily Powell for their opening score with two minutes left in the first quarter.
The Hoosiers turned the tide in their favor, scoring three more before halftime while holding Michigan scoreless in the second quarter. After two empty possessions, Kelly Matthews converted an unassisted goal, the 600th by the four graduating seniors in the field. Sarah Young netted a blind backhander on IU's next possession to give Indiana their first lead, at 3-2.
Senior Jessica Gaudreault provided eight of her 12 saves in the first half to spark an outstanding defensive effort. Her seventh save prompted IU to call a time out that set up Karrie Kozokar's goal that gave the Hoosiers a two-point lead at the break.
"It was our defense that made them wobble a bit when they went on defense," Castle said. We tried some different things that we've been tinkering with, like how Karrie posted up and was able to get a great shot. Considering that we played without Mollie Williams and Jennifer Beadle, this was a battle. I'm super proud of the kids."
Michigan flipped the script with the first two goals after half and four total scores in the third quarter. Megan Abarta delivered a successful mid-range attempt to keep IU within a point as teams headed to the final frame.
Young and Kozokar helped the Hoosiers trade blows with Michigan down the stretch as both found their second goal of the game in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines maintained their one-point advantage and added to it with back-to-back scores in less than a minute.
"When you have the explosive firepower that both teams have, we're going to have a high-scoring game with a huge emphasis on defense, and that's what we saw," Castle added. "The Michigan defense is tough to break, and we didn't break it often enough."
The defeat didn't dampen the senior day experience for the seven Hoosiers who will graduate in May. Gaudreault, Young, Matthews, Kozokar, Sarah Myers, Jennifer Beadle, and Mackenzie Rosenthal took a moment before the game to recognize the moment, their final game in Bloomington as IU water polo players, and the environment the fans and Crabb Band created for them.
"I would've liked to give them the win that they worked hard for," Castle commented after the game. "I'm incredibly grateful to the Crabb Band; they make this venue amazing. The referees hate officiating our games when the Crabb Band is here because they make it so loud. It's an awesome venue and I think it's one of the best in the country."
Up Next: The Home Stretch
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8 • Blodgett Pool • Boston, Mass.
The Hoosiers end their regular season with a five-game gauntlet on the East Coast, all against CWPA foes. Indiana begins their weekend on Friday night with a game at Brown before heading to the Atlantic shore for four games at Harvard.
Indiana's upcoming weekend schedule is as follows
Friday, April 6 • Providence, R.I.
4:00 p.m. ET – Indiana at Brown
Saturday, April 7 • Boston, Mass.
2:00 p.m. ET – Indiana vs. Princeton
7:00 p.m. ET – Indiana at Harvard
Sunday, April 8 • Boston, Mass.
9:15 a.m. ET – Indiana vs. George Washington
2:15 p.m. ET – Indiana vs. Bucknell
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
Defender
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Driver
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
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