Hoosiers Fall to No. 7 Michigan in Divisional Opener

Saturday, March 26

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

Michigan

Hoosiers Fall to No. 7 Michigan in Divisional Opener

3/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

March 26, 2011

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Highlights.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers (15-10, 0-1 CWPA West) women's water polo team opened CWPA Western Division play on Saturday with a 9-8 loss at the hands of No. 7 Michigan in a tightly-contested game that featured five ties and three lead changes. The game was shown live to national television audience by the Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers reeled of three goals in the final five minutes of action, but it was not enough as the Wolverines had three fourth period scores of their own to hold onto the victory.

"I thought we controlled the action for a good portion of the contest," said Indiana head coach Barry King. "The key factor was that we had some costly defensive mistakes that led to critical fouls and goals."

Shae Fournier led the Hoosiers with three goals. Jakie Köhli had two scores, while Kara Butler, Kelsey Campbell, and Lauren Wyckoff had one apiece.

Cassie Wyckoff registered her ninth double-digit save performance of the 2011 season, stopping 11 Michigan shot attempts and grabbing a pair of steals.

Michigan struck first with a power play goal at the 3:51 mark of the opening quarter.

Fournier came back with under a minute left in the period by driving the right side for a leaning goal to even things up heading into the second quarter.

The Wolverines earned a five-meter penalty shot 15 seconds into the second period, which they converted to take a 2-1 lead.

The Hoosiers answered with a post-up goal by Butler on an assist by (Lauren) Wyckoff with 7:23 left in the half, followed by Wyckoff notching a close-range goal of her own after a dish from Fournier as Indiana grabbed its first lead of the contest.

Michigan evened things up with a post-up conversion with 3:11 remaining and the game was locked up at 3-3 heading into the break.

Wyckoff had a stellar first half of action between the pipes, totaling seven saves.

Köhli and Hoosiers took the lead, 4-3, at the 6:40 mark of the third period with a power play score from the top of the key after a pass from Campbell.

The Wolverines responded with a two-goal run during the middle of the quarter, first on a six-on-five chance and followed up on a five-meter score. The five-meter foul with 4:14 to play in the third was Nicole Redder's third exclusion of the contest, resulting in the Hoosiers playing without their leading scorer for the duration of the game.

Köhli evened things up with a power play score at the 3:51 mark to make it 5-5 after an assist by (Lauren) Wyckoff. The Hoosiers capitalized on four of their 10 power play attempts in the game.

Michigan ended the third with a bang, firing in a long-range shot with four seconds remaining to take a one-goal lead into the fourth.

The Wolverines kept their momentum with two goals in the opening 2:12 of the final period to extend their lead to three goals, 8-5.

Fournier helped rally the Hoosiers with back-to-back goals in a span of 38 seconds to pull within one with 4:21 to play. Fournier was assisted on the two scores by Meghan Lappan and Köhli. Lappan finished the game with two assists and a steal.

The Wolverines tacked on their ninth goal of the contest with 3:31 to play, scoring on a drive up the middle of the Hoosier defense.

Indiana had a chance to pull within one near the two minute mark after Butler earned a five-meter penalty, but Fournier's shot was stopped by Michigan goalkeeper Alex Adamson.

Campbell connected on a lob with 21 seconds to play after the Lappan dish to make it 9-8, but the Hoosiers were not able to get another crack as the Wolverines ran the clock to zero.