BOSTON – The No. 14 Indiana water polo team came one win shy of an automatic NCAA Championship berth after falling to No. 5 Michigan, 9-2, in Sunday’s CWPA Championship game. With the win, Michigan moves to 29-6 on the year, while Indiana falls to 23-7.
The Hoosiers trailed by three scores before putting their first goal in the cage, with Sarah Myers finding Kelly Matthews for a nearside skip-shot. After that, the Wolverines scored five unanswered and prevented Indiana from scoring their second until the middle of the fourth quarter.
On the Hoosiers’ second goal, Matthews and Myers reversed roles, and Myers drilled her shot attempt from five meters.
Myers, Karrie Kozokar, and Sarah Young led Indiana with two steals apiece. Senior goalkeeper made seven saves.
Matthews and Jennifer Beadle finish the weekend with nine points apiece to lead Indiana on offense. Beadle led the Hoosiers in goals with six by way of two hat tricks. Myers and Kate Pipkin led Indiana with five assists each.
In her final CPWA tournament in the cage, Campbell made 38 saves with a .613 save percentage over three games.
The Hoosiers wrap up their 2016 season with a 23-7 season record, the second-highest winning percentage (.767) in the 19-year history of the program.
Indiana Places Three on All-Tournament Team
Following Sunday’s championship game, the Collegiate Water Polo Association announced the 2016 All-CWPA Championship Team, as decided by the conference’s coaches. Indiana senior Candyce Schroeder and sophomore Kelly Matthews earned first team accolades, while freshman Kate Pipkin secured a place on the second team.
Schroeder and Matthews made the All-Tournament first team last season after playing a vital role in the Hoosiers’ run to the 2015 CWPA Championship game. This season, the duo also landed on the All-CWPA first team for their efforts during the regular season. For Pipkin, this marks the first CWPA accolade of her career.
Matthews amassed a well-rounded performance in Indiana’s three games this weekend. The sophomore scored four goals while connecting for five assists, sharing the weekend point lead with Jennifer Beadle. On defense, Matthews led the Hoosiers with seven steals and converted two field blocks. Her two goals in the overtime period of Saturday’ssemifinal against Hartwick lifted the Hoosiers into the championship game against Michigan.
In the final CWPA tournament of her career, Schroeder earned All-Tournament first team honors after scoring five goals while adding two assists. The senior netted a hat trick in Indiana’s overtime win against Hartwick, and created four goals in the opening-round win over Brown. Schroeder also led the team with six drawn ejections.
Pipkin made her CWPA Championship debut with confident play from the wings throughout the weekend. The freshman served five assists and scored two impactful goals in Saturday’s semifinal game. Pipkin disrupted on the defensive end of the pool as well, recording three steals.
2016 CWPA Championship All-Tournament Team
First Team
Cleo Harrington (GK), Harvard University
Ali Thomason, University of Michigan
Kim Johnson, University of Michigan
Candyce Schroeder, Indiana University
Kelly Matthews, Indiana University
Hannah Sunday, Bucknell University
Zsofia Polak, Hartwick College
Second Team
Michaela Davies (GK), Hartwick College
Haley Wan, Princeton University
Pippa Temple, Princeton University
Chelsea Johnson, Princeton University
Yoshi Andersen, Harvard University
Kate Pipkin, Indiana University
Danielle Johnson, University of Michigan
Most Valuable Player: Ali Thomason, University of Michigan
Rookie of the Tournament: Kim Johnson, University of Michigan
Doc Hunkler Coach of the Tournament: Dr. Marcelo Leonardi, University of Michigan
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana Water Polo.