Sunday, April 30
Bloomington, Ind.
1:30 p.m.
Princeton University
4
vs
5
Michigan
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Women's Water Polo
CD
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
UTL
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
C
/ Women's Water Polo
Photo by: CWPA Communications
No. 9 Princeton Falls In CWPA Championship Game To No. 7 Michigan, 5-4
April 30, 2017 | Women's Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines recorded an 5-4 victory over the No. 9 Princeton Tigers in the CWPA Championship Game at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea Johnson had two goals to lead Princeton's offense while Haley Wan and Eliza Britt also scored in the game. Ashleigh Johnson had 12 saves in her final collegiate performance.
The first scoring chance for either team came around the six-minute mark of the first quarter. Michigan's Julia Sellers lofted a ball over Ashleigh Johnson, as the two were battling for a loose ball in front of the net, but her shot hit the top of the crossbar. Johnson kept the game scoreless as she made a sprawling save on a 2-on-1 chance for the Wolverines with 4:40 remaining.
After a Michigan turnover, Wan created a power play chance as she was fouled on a breakaway. Wan used a quick give-and-go with Britt to create space and riffled one past Michigan goalie's Heidi Ritner to put the Tigers ahead, 1-0.
Following Princeton not converting a man-up opportunity, Michigan earned an exlucsion and tied the contest on a tally from Allison Skaggs just 1:31 into the second stanza. Later in the frame, Michigan's Danielle Johnson broke free on a Princeton offensive foul, but Ashleigh Johnson blocked the chance. The Wolverines took a 2-1 advantage as their power play expired with 2:37 left on the clock.
Wan looked to tie the game right before halftime, but her attempt hit the top of the crossbar. Princeton went 0-for-4 on the power play in the second quarter.
It took 44 seconds into the second half for Princeton to secure its second goal as Britt ripped one by Ritner. Michigan answered with a power play tally 32 seconds after, setting the score at 3-2.
The Tigers collected a man-up opportunity, trailing by a goal. Kelleher whipped a shot that missed, but Princeton retained possession. Head coach Luis Nicolao's team quickly circled the ball to Chelsea Johnson, who retied the matchup again at the 5:30 point of the third stanza.
The back and forth battle continued as Danielle Johnson, 28 seconds later, made an impressive turnaround shot, giving the Wolverines a 4-3 advantage. Ashleigh Johnson kept the Tigers within striking distance ash she stopped a shot as the clock was running down, down a player.
Michigan was trying to separate itself from Princeton as the fourth quarter began as Sellers' skip shot hit the right post at the 7:26 mark. The Wolverines finally gained that separation as Caroline Anderson scored a power play as the time ticked under five minutes (4:43).
One of Princeton's best scoring threats came with 3:20 left as Wan tried to throw the ball over Ritner, but the Michigan goalie tipped it away. Chelsea Johnson snagged her second of the goal of the game with eight seconds to go, but the Wolverines played keep away and secured the CWPA title.
Ashleigh Johnson and Haley Wan were honored as the CWPA Championship All-Tournament First Team while Chelsea Johnson and Lindsey Kelleher picked up second team honors. Skaggs was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player while her coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi earned the Doc Hunkler Coach of the Tournament. Hartwick's Lena Kotanchyan was named Rookie of the Tournament. Michigan earns the conference's at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With the loss, the careers of the Princeton Class of 2017, Ashleigh Johnson, Hannah Lapkin, Morgan Hallock and Sydney Saxe, come to an end. The group won 133 games and two CWPA titles during their time at Princeton.
Chelsea Johnson had two goals to lead Princeton's offense while Haley Wan and Eliza Britt also scored in the game. Ashleigh Johnson had 12 saves in her final collegiate performance.
The first scoring chance for either team came around the six-minute mark of the first quarter. Michigan's Julia Sellers lofted a ball over Ashleigh Johnson, as the two were battling for a loose ball in front of the net, but her shot hit the top of the crossbar. Johnson kept the game scoreless as she made a sprawling save on a 2-on-1 chance for the Wolverines with 4:40 remaining.
After a Michigan turnover, Wan created a power play chance as she was fouled on a breakaway. Wan used a quick give-and-go with Britt to create space and riffled one past Michigan goalie's Heidi Ritner to put the Tigers ahead, 1-0.
Following Princeton not converting a man-up opportunity, Michigan earned an exlucsion and tied the contest on a tally from Allison Skaggs just 1:31 into the second stanza. Later in the frame, Michigan's Danielle Johnson broke free on a Princeton offensive foul, but Ashleigh Johnson blocked the chance. The Wolverines took a 2-1 advantage as their power play expired with 2:37 left on the clock.
Wan looked to tie the game right before halftime, but her attempt hit the top of the crossbar. Princeton went 0-for-4 on the power play in the second quarter.
It took 44 seconds into the second half for Princeton to secure its second goal as Britt ripped one by Ritner. Michigan answered with a power play tally 32 seconds after, setting the score at 3-2.
The Tigers collected a man-up opportunity, trailing by a goal. Kelleher whipped a shot that missed, but Princeton retained possession. Head coach Luis Nicolao's team quickly circled the ball to Chelsea Johnson, who retied the matchup again at the 5:30 point of the third stanza.
The back and forth battle continued as Danielle Johnson, 28 seconds later, made an impressive turnaround shot, giving the Wolverines a 4-3 advantage. Ashleigh Johnson kept the Tigers within striking distance ash she stopped a shot as the clock was running down, down a player.
Michigan was trying to separate itself from Princeton as the fourth quarter began as Sellers' skip shot hit the right post at the 7:26 mark. The Wolverines finally gained that separation as Caroline Anderson scored a power play as the time ticked under five minutes (4:43).
One of Princeton's best scoring threats came with 3:20 left as Wan tried to throw the ball over Ritner, but the Michigan goalie tipped it away. Chelsea Johnson snagged her second of the goal of the game with eight seconds to go, but the Wolverines played keep away and secured the CWPA title.
Ashleigh Johnson and Haley Wan were honored as the CWPA Championship All-Tournament First Team while Chelsea Johnson and Lindsey Kelleher picked up second team honors. Skaggs was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player while her coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi earned the Doc Hunkler Coach of the Tournament. Hartwick's Lena Kotanchyan was named Rookie of the Tournament. Michigan earns the conference's at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With the loss, the careers of the Princeton Class of 2017, Ashleigh Johnson, Hannah Lapkin, Morgan Hallock and Sydney Saxe, come to an end. The group won 133 games and two CWPA titles during their time at Princeton.
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