No. 8 Michigan Escapes No. 18 Indiana 7-6 in Elite Eight Tournament Semifinal

Nicole Redder

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 18 Indiana University Hoosiers (8-5) controlled the first three quarters of their semifinal battle with No. 8 University of Michigan, but a three goal run in the fourth period was the decider as the Wolverines edged Indiana, 7-6, to advance to the finals of the Elite Eight at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. Michigan will take on No. 11 Hartwick College in the final, while the Hoosiers will meet up with the University of Maryland in the third place game.

"It's certainly a disappointing loss," said Indiana head coach Barry King. "We fought hard and were in good position, but we just didn't execute down the stretch like we needed to."

The Hoosiers were led in scoring by Jakie Köhli and Nicole Redder, each finishing with a pair of goals. Kelly Palmberg and Lauren Wyckoff notched one goal apiece to round out the Indiana attack.

The Wolverines struck first with a goal by Alison Mantel early in the first quarter, but Indiana responded with a three goal run to take an early 3-1 lead. Palmberg scored from long range after a Wyckoff cross pass, followed by a pair of Köhli goals. Mantel came back with her second goal of the period to make it a 3-2 Hoosier lead after the first stanza.

The second period was full of defense, as the lone goal was scored at the 2:46 mark by Redder on a nifty floater after another Wyckoff assist to give the Hoosiers a 4-2 halftime advantage.

Cassie Wyckoff came up big from the goalkeeper position in the third period with a plethora of thrilling saves. She finished the contest with 14 stops, which ties a season-high for the sophomore.

Redder opened the third quarter with a leaning post-up goal after an assist from Kelsey Campbell to give Indiana their largest lead of the game at 5-2. Michigan refused to allow the Hoosiers to run away with it, as Keller Felt and Mantel each found the net to pull within one.

As the Wolverines began to establish momentum, Lauren Wyckoff came up big with 43 seconds remaining in the third when she lofted a shot past the Michigan goalkeeper to give the Hoosiers a 6-4 lead with one quarter to play.

Michigan dominated the final period, scoring two goals in the first three minutes of the quarter to knot things up, 6-6. As has been the case when these two rivals collide, the game would come down to the final minute. The Wolverines made a crucial steal, which they converted into a five meter penalty with 35 seconds remaining. Lauren Orth skipped the five meter shot past Wyckoff's outstretched arms to put Michigan on top for good as Redder's final shot was blocked in the waning seconds.

The Hoosiers will return to action at 12:20 p.m. on Sunday in the third place game against Maryland. The Terrapins lost to No. 11 Hartwick, 11-8, in the other semifinal.

Michigan Goals: Mantel 3, Cobb 2, Felt 1, Orth 1
Michigan Saves: Adamson 12
Indiana Goals: Kohli 2, Redder 2, Palmberg 1, L. Wyckoff 1
Indiana Saves: C. Wyckoff 14

Release courtesy Indiana Athletic Communications