Leah Robertson

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team knocked off No. 15-ranked Indiana University, 6-4, to claim its third straight regular-season division crown on Saturday, April 3 at home inside Canham Natatorium. The game will be aired this evening at 9 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

Senior Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) set a Canham Natatorium record with eight steals. Junior Lauren Orth (Poway, Calif./Poway) scored twice on five-meter penalty shots in the fourth to collect her second game-winning goal in as many games against IU.

Freshman Alex Adamson (Coronado, Calif./Coronado) made seven saves, including three while shorthanded.

Michigan set the defensive tone in the first period with six steals, holding IU without a shot on goal in the opening frame. Robertson broke the scoreless first period with a backhand goal just past the midway point of the frame. The teams alternated goals in the second frame to send the contest into the half with U-M on top by a 3-2 margin.

Following a scoreless third, Michigan began to create a lead with two goals in a little more than three minutes. Junior Cara Reitz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) got free on a counter attack off a pass from classmate Alison Mantel (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) and slammed a wet shot home. Orth was called to the line for the first of three straight penalty-shot goals. After IU responded with a penalty toss of its own, Orth once again answered the bell to put the Maize and Blue up, 6-3.

Freshman Kiki Golden (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) had two key interceptions late, allowing for Michigan to continually keep the ball out of the defensive end. IU got the game's final goal with three seconds left as Michigan clinched the CWPA Western Division regular-season title.

Michigan Goals: Lauren Orth 2, Cara Reitz, Ryley Plunkett, Sarah Roberts, Leah Robertson
Indiana Goals: Kate Dunn, Hanna Eimstad, Jakie Kohli, Kelly Palmberg.
Saves: Michigan - 7 (Alex Adamson), Indiana - 8 (Cassie Wyckoff)

Release courtesy Michigan Athletic Communications