Offense catapults team to 2nd place finish in tournament

The IU women’s water polo team returned home after another tough loss to Michigan in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division Championships. The top-seeded Wolverines defeated the No. 17 Hoosiers 11-3, taking first place in the tournament.\nThough IU (19-14) came up short, the victories over Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst were enough to qualify the team for the CWPA Eastern Championships next weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich.\nIn their first game, the Hoosiers were just one goal shy of tying the school record for goals in their 22-5 win over Slippery Rock in the quarterfinals on Friday.\nJunior Maggie Hannon and freshman Amy Moore both scored four goals apiece for IU, and freshman Lauren Wyckoff added a hat trick. With 20 assists in the game, the Hoosiers also set a new school record for assists in a single game.\nIn the semifinals against Mercyhurst, Hannon scored an impressive four goals along with freshman Nicole Redder, who also scored four.\nSenior Brooke Zimmerman added three more against Mercyhurst and another goal in the loss to Michigan. Zimmerman also reached 50 assists for the second time in her career, and she is one assist shy of her single-season record.\nAgainst the Wolverines, a high-powered IU offense was held to just three scores against Michigan – one of the top teams in the country. Still, the Hoosiers advanced to the College Water Polo Association Eastern Championships.\nIU will need to place first in the easternchampionships to enter the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.