Hoosiers' regular season ends in clash with Wolverines

The No. 15 IU women’s water polo team will look to wrap up their season with a fifth-straight win against rival No. 10 Michigan.

“I’ve been pleased and impressed with how the group has consistently found a way to win games, not necessarily the same way all the time,” IU Coach Barry King said his 23-7 Hoosiers, “For as young and inexperienced coming into the season, their ability to find ways to win is what’s been most overall pleasing.”

IU cruised in its last three matches and has a current four-game win streak. Last weekend, Indiana took down Salem International, Notre Dame College and Gannon University in impressive fashion. During that three game span, the Hoosiers outscored opponents 50-17.

In the team’s last match with the Wolverines, IU topped Michigan 6-3. Senior goalkeeper Cassie Wyckoff and sophomore Shae Fournier each contributed with Wyckoff’s twelve saves and Fournier’s two goals. Freshman Colleen McNaught also tallied two goals in her debut.

Fournier has the opportunity to pass Jakie Köhli for the most goals in a season as each of them sit at the 80 goal mark. Fournier’s mark is also tops in the CWPA and she has a  2.67 goal per game tally. In addition, she leads the team in field blocks with 82 and in steals (74).

Wyckoff will make her final regular season appearance in a highly anticipated matchup. She leads the CWPA with her 293 saves. Also, she averages 11.18 stops a game and allows just 6.45 goals per game. Her current 1,045 saves throughout her  career is a record continuing to be set.

“They found ways to get away from people early in the contest," King said, "a way to stay in the lead and expand the lead late in the game.”

King has no doubt that his Hoosiers are right there with the top teams in college water polo. With playoff seedings on the line between the two rivals, the meeting Saturday at noon is about as good as it gets.

The contest will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network for the third consecutive season.

“Were as good as anybody out here. It’s just a matter of us doing what we need to and doing what’s best for us inside the frame of the game,” King said.