The Michigan water polo team was forced to play without senior captain Leah Robertson this weekend, as an undisclosed injury held the Wolverines’ star out. But despite being short-handed, the Wolverines remained undefeated in conference play.

Michigan took to the pools of Indiana’s Councilman Billingsley Aquatic Center this weekend as the CWPA’s eight best teams competed. The Wolverines looked to continue their CWPA dominance, taking on rival Indiana, Hartwick and Bucknell.

And even without All-American Robertson, who Michigan coach Matt Anderson said needed a week of rest, Michigan defeated all three opponents at the Elite Eight, providing the team with a confidence boost.

“I wanted to prove to the team that they could step up without her in the water,” Anderson said. “And they did, so it’s only going to make us stronger for the rest of the year.”

With Roberston out, the Michigan-Hartwick final looked to be a tight match. Michigan (7-0 CWPA, 15-6 overall) and Hartwick (6-2, 14-4) annually find themselves leading the conference in competition for a tournament bid. The two schools' traditions of excellence have sparked a rivalry so it was fitting that the eighth-ranked Wolverines had to get through No. 11 Hartwick to win this weekend’s invitational.

After a tiring west-coast trip the previous weekend dropped Michigan three places in the polls, the Wolverines were desperate for a dramatic rebound in conference play.

Michigan beat the hometown Hoosiers in final-period, comeback fashion. Trailing 6-4 to start the final stanza, sophomore Megan Cobb scored two goals in under two and a half minutes to tie the game. With just 35 seconds left, junior Lauren Orth rocketed in a five-meter penalty shot to solidify the comeback victory.

“It’s always an exciting and close game against Indiana,” Cobb said. “Our team was playing well the whole game. My teammates worked to get me open and I ended up getting the shots.”

Only junior Alison Mantel matched Cobb’s inspired play. Mantel had a hat trick and a playmaker (three assists) in both opening-day games, leading Michigan over Bucknell 13-7 and the 18th-ranked Hoosiers 7-6.

“I had a talk with ‘Magic’, that’s what we call (Mantel), she’s our other All-American,” Anderson said. “I told her she has got to be a leader out there. With Leah out, she has got to take control and start dictating the pace of our offense. She really blossomed this weekend in terms of being a vocal leader in the water.”

The excitement of the first day made for an anticipated matchup with Hartwick. But Michigan didn’t have a problem, beating its rivals for the second time this season. Cobb followed up her Saturday heroics with four pivotal goals against rival Hartwick as Michigan took first in the Elite Eight with a dominant 11-8 victory.

“I think that us beating Indiana and Hartwick as a team proved that we are a team to be reckoned with in the East,” Mantel said. “We know we can play with everyone and comeback from tough situations and I think we trust ourselves more now.”