Coach Matt Anderson Scores 200th Victory as Michigan defeats Maryland in CWPA Eastern Championship Water Polo

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 25. SENIOR Julie Hyrne (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) scored the game-winning goal inside the final two minutes to vault the No. 12-ranked University of Michigan water polo team to a 9-8 win over No. 20-ranked Maryland in the semifinals of the CWPA Eastern Championship on Saturday evening (April 25) at Harvard's Blodgett Pool. The triumph marks the 200th victory for head coach Matt Anderson and sets up the Wolverines for a final matchup with No. 14-ranked Hartwick tomorrow afternoon (April 26) at 2:30 p.m.

Hyrne, freshman Meagan Cobb (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) and junior Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) each tallied two-goal games, while seniors Carrie Frost (Saline, Mich./Saline) and Kelsey Haley (Portola Valley, Calif./Menlo) had a pair of assists. Senior/junior goalkeeper Brittany May (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) stopped nine Maryland shots, including five in the first half.

Michigan's biggest lead of the game came just before the midway point of the final period when Hyrne scored to put U-M up 8-5 with 4:22 left. Senior Sharayah Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) terminated a Maryland power-play with a big field block and then on the ensuing offensive drive fed Hyrne, who launched a shot in from seven meters. Following the goal, Maryland called a timeout and, in the following two minutes, made Michigan's lead evaporate with three straight scores. The tying goal, which came with 2:27 left in the game, was tipped by May, but the Wolverine goalkeeper could not get enough on the shot to steer it to safety.

Seeking to stifle the opposition's momentum, Michigan moved the ball around meticulously on its offensive series. Frost tossed a pass to her classmate Hyrne, who sent a blazing shot careening off the crossbar and goalkeeper before settling in the back of the cage. The Terps took one last swipe at the goal, getting a shot off with 30 seconds left that May emerged from the water to collect.

The game began much as it ended, with the two teams going back and forth, but Michigan always ending up on top. Maryland put pressure on May early and, after two spectacular saves, scored a power-play marker 3:39 into the game. Cobb wasted no time generating the Michigan response, scoring from two meters on the next trip down the pool. The Wolverine freshman was not done, scoring again a minute later on a mirror-image shot. Maryland came close to converting on a late power play, but May shut the door to maintain the 2-1 Michigan lead after one period.

The second period began as a defensive battle with sophomore Keller Felt (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla) creating a trio of turnovers, including a field block. Sophomore Cara Reitz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) expanded the U-M lead to 3-1 at 4:31, taking something off of a sidewinder shot from two meters. Maryland kept things close with a goal from the point 27 second later. Hernandez then put Michigan back up by two goals, 4-2, with a power-play marker 2:29 before the break. Frost passed to a charging Hernandez, who dented the twine with a hard shot.

Maryland came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and scored 35 seconds into the period. Following their initial success, the U-M defense stepped up with three saves and a field block, keeping the Terps to benign shots. Rounding out the series was a counter attack that flowed from Frost to sophomore Alison Mantel (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) to Robertson and into the back of the net. Frost sailed a pass into the path of Mantel, who had inside water. Mantel then carried the ball into the five-meter area before feeding Robertson for the goal that put the Maize and Blue up by a 5-3 margin. The teams alternated special-team goals, both cashing in on a power play and a five-meter penalty shot. Sophomore Lauren Orth (Poway, Calif./Poway) scored Michigan's penalty toss that Haley drew with 48 seconds left and extended Michigan's lead to 7-5 heading into a tumultuous final frame.

Michigan and Hartwick will face off on Sunday (April 26) in the final round of the CWPA Eastern Championship. Opening sprint is set for 2:30 p.m. in Harvard's Blodgett Pool.

GAME SUMMARY

By Period 1 2 3 4 F
Maryland 1 1 3 3 8
Michigan 2 2 3 2 9

U-M Goals: Leah Robertson 2, Julie Hyrne 2, Meagan Cobb 2, Cara Reitz, Lauren Orth, Sharayah Hernandez.
Maryland Goals: Blaise Stanicic 3, Allison Beck 2, Shannon Simerly 2, Christine Goetsch.
Saves: U-M 9 (Brittany May), Maryland 9 (Ashleigh Jobson)
Ejections: U-M 9, Maryland 7

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