Winning CWPA Western Division Co-Player of the Week last weekend wasn’t enough for senior captain Julie Hyrne.

She played her best game of the year yesterday, according to Michigan coach Matt Anderson.

With her five goals Sunday, including a SportsCenter Top 10-worthy no-look, over-the-head goal as the first half expired, Hyrne led the Michigan water polo team to a 9-8 victory over Indiana for the CWPA Western Division Championship. The win in Bloomington was the eighth championship for Michigan coach Matt Anderson and is the Wolverines' 22 straight-win this season.

"It has taken a lot of hard work to do what we have done," Anderson said through the Athletic Department. "I am very happy because the girls played well, and they deserved it. They need to enjoy this moment and then turn their focus to next weekend."

After rolling past Penn State-Behrend 14-2 in Saturday's quarterfinals and Gannon 17-4 in the semifinals, No. 1 seed Michigan came out strong in yesterday's final against tournament host and No. 2 seed Indiana. Hyrne's goal as the clock ticked down gave the Wolverines a 7-3 lead entering halftime.

"I knew there was about three seconds left on the clock," Hyrne said through the Athletic Department. "Keller (Felt) set it and I just tried to get off a quick shot."

The third period began with a resurgent Indiana team pressing hard for the first goal, but senior goalie Brittany May was there to make save after save. May had two crucial stops two minutes into the third period when the Wolverines (30-8) were on a double-ejection penalty kill.

"In California (at the Aztec Mini in San Diego last weekend), we had all these 6-on-4s and they didn't score on us, so Matt (Anderson) started to joke that we were better at 6-on-4 than 6-on-5," May said through the Athletic Department. "It was pretty cool that I blocked the first one. I tried to get it out of the way so she couldn't push it in or throw it.

"Even though she got the ball back, everyone got right back in position and it made it less hectic and a lot easier for me to make the second save."

Entering the final frame, the Wolverines held a 9-5 lead. For the first time since Mar 15, Michigan was held scoreless for an entire period. The Hoosiers (19-15) scored just over a minute into the period, again with 3:21 remaining and again with just over a minute left to pull within a single strike. May stepped up and made two critical saves, and sophomores Ryley Plunkett and Lauren Orth ran the clock out with an impressive showing of strong swimming and expert ball control.

With the win, the Wolverines continue their postseason quest next weekend at the CWPA Eastern Championship in Cambridge, Mass., where they are expected to be at least the second seed. If Michigan takes the championship crown, it will earn an automatic NCAA Championship bid for the second year in a row.