Hoosiers win pair, lose thriller in sudden death

The No. 10 Hoosier women's water polo squad kicked off the post-season in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday afternoon looking to defend its CWPA Eastern Conference title. After knocking off Grove City and Gannon in impressive fashion, the Cream and Crimson fell to the No. 8 Wolverines of Michigan in a heartbreaker.\nIn the first match of the divisional tournament, the Hoosiers faced off against a weaker Grove City squad -- a team IU beat earlier in the season, 13-2. IU jumped out of the gate scoring the first five goals of the match en route to a 12-2 victory. \nJunior Krista Peterson led the way for the Hoosiers, as she netted four goals and improved her season total to a team-leading 49. Sophomores Bridget McKeon and Clare Meadows were solid as well. McKeon's four steals and two assists along with Meadows' goal, two assists and season-high five steals helped wrap the match up and send the Hoosiers into the semifinal match against Gannon.\nIn the nightcap, the Hoosiers picked up where they left off against Grove City and moved out to an early 4-0 lead. IU never looked back and, at one point, led Gannon 12-1. Behind yet another four goal performance by All-American Peterson, the Hoosiers were able to advance into the divisional championship match against Michigan with a 12-3 victory.\nPeterson's four tallies pushed her season total to 53 and marked the third consecutive season with 50 or more goals for the Portland, Ore., native -- only the second time in Hoosier history a player has scored 50 or more in three seasons. \nSunday, the Hoosiers faced off against rival Michigan looking for their first win in three tries this season as they met in the divisional championship match. The IU-Michigan match also marked the second consecutive year the teams have squared-off in the divisional championship. \nThe Hoosiers jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage, as Peterson continued her superb play with the opening goal of the match off an assist from fellow classmate Kandace Waldthaler. Michigan quickly responded, knotting the score at one a piece with 2:51 left in the opening period. Nevertheless, IU was able to find the back of the cage one more time before the break, as Pardy netted her first goal of the game on a Meadows assist. \nIn a see-saw second half, the Hoosiers would see their one-goal lead disappear after a pair of Wolverine goals. IU, however, would not be denied, as it answered back with a pair of its own goals. Peterson tallied her second of the match and 10th of the Divisionals followed by senior Melissa Pietras' first goal of the game in the final period of regulation.\nIt appeared as if the Hoosiers would come out as the victors, but with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter of play, Michigan's Jo Antonsen tied the match up at four a piece and sent it into overtime. In the defense-filled overtime periods, Goldner was brilliant for IU, as she recorded four of her 12 saves and helped stop the Wolverines while taking the match into the decisive sudden death period.\nIn sudden death, Michigan's Meg Knudsten scored with the 6-on-5 advantage just 42 seconds into the sudden death period to give the Wolverines the win. The loss marked IU's third consecutive loss to Michigan. Despite the loss, the Hoosiers still managed to advance to next week's CWPA Eastern Conference Championship, picking up an automatic bid due to their second place finish.\n"It was definitely a tough loss," Peterson said. "It's always tough to lose a match in overtime."\nIU coach Barry King was impressed with his squad's play and is anxious to defend his CWPA Conference title. \n"I was perfectly fine with our performance," King said. "I thought we played pretty well (this weekend), and we're in position to win the whole thing next weekend."\nGoldner, as well as the rest of the squad, was also pleased with their effort this weekend and feels confident going into next weekend's CWPA Eastern Conference championship. \n"Overall, I think we played great despite our loss," Goldner said. "Everyone stepped up, and I think we're really ready for next weekend."\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Ostrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.