No. 12 Indiana water polo played its final game of the regular season Saturday, taking on No. 16 Michigan on Senior Day at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington.
Indiana got off to a fast start, with senior utility player Portia Sasser scoring inside the opening minute. Senior attacker Skylar Kidd doubled the Hoosiers’ lead less than a minute later. After a goal from Michigan, Indiana responded with two more goals from junior attacker Grace Klingler and Kidd to capture a 4-1 lead after one quarter.
In response to Indiana’s first-quarter performance, Michigan fired back two goals less than a minute into the second quarter, cutting the Hoosiers’ lead to one. The two sides traded goals as the quarter progressed, with senior attacker Grace Hathaway and Klingler both scoring.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Wolverines scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at 6. Indiana responded, however, as Sasser scored with two minutes left to restore the Hoosiers’ lead. With three seconds left, junior attacker Louisa Downes scored to give the Hoosiers an 8-6 advantage at halftime.
Indiana started the second half strongly, quickly maneuvering toward the goal for Kidd to score after 16 seconds. Senior attacker Olivia Stark added another goal to increase the Hoosiers’ lead to 4. As the third quarter ticked by, both sides scored once more as the scoreline read 11-7 with one quarter left.
Down by 4, Michigan pushed aggressively from the start of the fourth quarter, scoring after 14 seconds. The Wolverines scored a further goal to reduce the Hoosiers’ lead to 2. Any doubts of a collapse faded away as Kidd scored her fifth goal of the game less than 30 seconds later.
Following Kidd’s goal, Downes scored another to push the Hoosiers’ lead back to 4. Despite Michigan’s best efforts, the Wolverines’ late goals sandwiched another Downes strike to end the game. Indiana staved off Michigan 14-11.
Senior day festivities began after the game concluded. Kidd, who led the team with 62 goals this season, was hoisted into the air by her teammates. Kidd, alongside Downes, spearheaded a Hoosier attack that often piled on the goals this season.
Coach Taylor McInerney spoke following the result, remarking on the impact the seniors had on the team. Following her speech, a tribute video was played for each senior as they celebrated the journeys and accomplishments of: Skylar Kidd, Olivia Stark, Portia Sasser, Grace Hathaway, center Sophia Sollie, defender Claire Witting and attacker Sarah Lolli.
Indiana continues its season at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships as the No. 7 seed, taking on No. 2 seed USC on Friday at 2 p.m. EST at the Spieker Aquatic Center in Los Angeles.
