Preview: Indiana vs. Michigan

Saturday, April 2

Bloomington, Ind.

11 AM

Indiana University

Michigan

4/1/2016 3:19:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

The Hoosiers open CWPA play with a Senior Day game against their biggest rival

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana will open their CWPA schedule with the highest-ranked team in the conference, and their biggest rival, when they take the pool against No. 8 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday morning.

The Hoosiers, led on the attack by Kelly Matthews (93 points) and Candyce Schroeder (56 points), could take a valuable lead in the CWPA standings with what would be their first win over a top-ten opponent this season.

Game 21: No. 15 Indiana vs. No. 8 Michigan
Saturday, April 2, 2016 • 11:00 a.m. ET
Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Game Notes
Series History
68^th Meeting, Michigan leads 44-21-2 | IU has won 6 of last 7
Last Season
March 8, 2015 • Indiana 9, Michigan 8
April 4, 2015 • Michigan 13, Indiana 12 (Sudden Victory OT)
April 25, 2015 • Indiana 9, Michigan 8 (OT)

Hoosier Polo Notes

On the Way Out
This game will be the last chance for Hoosier fans to catch the IU water polo team in Bloomington this year, as they close the regular season with six games on the road. Their final game doubles as their CWPA conference opener, with the Hoosiers aiming for a winning start to their seven-game conference slate.

Hometown Dominance
The Hoosiers' last weekend of competition yielded four decisive wins, each by seven or more goals, in front of a hometown crowd at the Fluid Five. Indiana's balanced attack led to all 12 field players tallying more than one goal over the weekend.

Kelly Matthews stuffed the stat sheet with 12 goals (.632 shot percentage), seven assists, 11 steals, and three field blocks. Five other Hoosiers--Candyce Schroeder, Karrie Kozokar, Jennifer Beadle, Kate Pipkin, and Sarah Myers--all recorded 10-plus points through the weekend.

Mary Campbell and MacKenzie Bonk excelled in their split time in the cage. They combined for 44 saves, two assists, and three steals while allowing just 19 goals.

A Score to Settle
Indiana and Michigan have formed one of the toughest rivalries in the country since their first meeting in 1998. Since then, Michigan has taken a 44-21-2 series lead, but the Hoosiers have won six of the last seven meetings. In their three encounters last season, each game was decided by one goal.

Wolverine Watch
Michigan comes into Bloomington with a 19-6 record, with 23 of their 25 games against ranked competition. In that time, they've scored key wins over top-ten teams such as San Jose State, California, and UC Irvine. Like Indiana, Michigan opens their CWPA schedule on Saturday, and both teams will be eager to take a lead in the standings.

A Class Above
Saturday's game will also serve as recognition for the senior class of 2016: goalkeeper MacKenzie Bonk, goalkeeper Mary Campbell, and center Candyce Schroeder. The trio has combined for 203 career appearances and 146 starts.

Of Note...
• 2015 CWPA Rookie of the Year Kelly Matthews is having a stellar season with the Hoosiers. She leads Indiana in goals (54) and assists (39), and ranks among the nation's top five in scoring.
• Senior goalkeeper Mary Campbell is amidst her second season starting in the cage for Indiana. She leads the nation in saves per game (minimum 10 games) with an average of 9.95.
• Center Candyce Schroeder is IU's top returning scorer in 2016. The senior has 148 career goals (8th - IU history) and 66 career assists to her name, and her presence in the pool has opened opportunities for her teammates in the early stages of the season.
• Up next, the Hoosiers will dive into their CWPA schedule with games against No. 13 Harvard and No. 17 Princeton in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 9.