Cobb Scores Four as No. 8 Michigan Overcomes No. 11 Hartwick 11-8 for Elite Eight Title

Meagan Cobb

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team completed a perfect weekend with a decisive 11-8 victory over No. 11-ranked Hartwick College on Sunday, March 7 in the first-place game of the Elite Eight at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center.

Sophomore Meagan Cobb (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) ignited the second-half offensive surge, scoring all four of her goals after halftime. Juniors Keller Felt (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla) and Alison Mantel (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) both scored twice for the Wolverines. Junior Lauren Orth (Poway, Calif./Poway) added four assists in the game.

Freshman Alex Adamson (Coronado, Calif./Coronado) earned her third win of the weekend, making nine saves in the victory.

Michigan got ahead 2-1 early the opening frame on a counter attack goal from Felt and a power-play conversion from Mantel. Hartwick knotted things up with three minutes to go and carried the teams into the first intermission at 2-2.

The two teams exchanged goals before senior Terri Bukofzer (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson) scored on a counter attack to reestablish the U-M lead for good at 4-3. Cobb got her second goal of the period, taking a pass from Orth to expand the lead to 5-3 and completed her hat trick to make it 6-3 at the half.

The Wolverines responded to an early surge from Hartwick with five unanswered goals. Mantel and junior Sarah Roberts (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) stifled the rally before Orth converted on a five-meter toss. Felt expanded the lead with a 6-on-5 marker and gave the Wolverines a 10-5 advantage. Cobb tacked on the last goal in the string before Hartwick found the back of the net. The Hawks scored the game's final three goals but remained behind by three goals, 11-8, when the final buzzer sounded.

Michigan returns home next weekend for a pair of league games with Gannon University and Mercyhurst College on Friday (March 12) and the Wolverine Invitational on Saturday (March 13).

Michigan Goals: Cobb 4, Felt 2, Mantel 2, Bukofzer 1, Orth 1, Roberts 1
Michigan Saves: Adamson 9
Hartwick Goals: Freeborn 3, Alferink 1, Analytis 1, Evans 1, Leonard 1, McKee 1
Hartwick Saves: Dorman 10

Release courtesy Michigan Athletic Communications