BLOOMINGTON — What could possibly have caused Michigan water polo coach Matt Anderson to tread water with his shoes on?

It must have been No. 11 Michigan’s 8-7 victory over rival Indiana in the finals of the Eastern Conference Championship yesterday and its subsequent automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.

With 2:41 left in the fourth quarter, No. 10 Indiana tied the game for the third time at seven, erasing Michigan’s two-goal lead.

One minute later, the Wolverines received an ejection, which put Indiana on the power play. The home crowd went crazy trying to will the Hoosiers to their first lead of the game. But the Wolverines killed it off and earned a power play of their own. Michigan capitalized when sophomore Shana Welch turned a pass from the left of the net to junior Megan Hausmann — posted in front of the net — who sent the ball flying by Indiana goalie Jessica Goldner for the game-winning goal.

“The key was the girls never came over to the sidelines with an empty look in their eyes,” Anderson said. “We knew it was going to be tied going into the fourth — now it’s time to finish it. And that’s the attitude that I’ve been trying to instill in them.”

Michigan began the game quickly, winning the opening swimoff and scoring on its first possession. Senior Meg Knudtsen took a pass from senior Sheetal Narsai to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines made the most of strong opening periods all weekend. They jumped to 3-0 lead against Bucknell and Princeton in the first quarter of each of Saturday’s games and never trailed an opponent all weekend.

Even the home crowd was impressed. Murmurs of “Michigan came to play” and “wow, their goalie’s amazing” could be heard.

“They don’t really have any weaknesses,” Bucknell sophomore Elizabeth Jensen said. “But we tried to get better position, because it’s really hard to score on their goalie.”

Michigan goalie Betsey Armstrong was named MVP of the tournament and selected to All-Tournament first team with her teammate Welch.

“Betsey Armstrong has shown why she is arguably the greatest college goalie to ever have played this game,” Anderson said. “But we won (yesterday) because Meg Knudsten decided she was going to step up and take the team on her shoulders.”

Knudsten — who recorded 13 goals before April 3 this season — scored seven on the weekend. Knudsten and Narsai made the All-Tournament second team.

“Meg Knudsten became a superstar,” Anderson said. “She is arguably my most dependable player. She stays in the game the whole time, but she’s also our No. 6 option to score the ball, maybe even our No. 7 or (No. 8). She said, ‘I’m a senior. If I’m going out a winner or a loser, it’s going to be my responsibility.’ And that’s what she did.”

Knudsten started the weekend off with the Wolverines’ first goal against Bucknell and then scored back-to-back goals to increase the Michigan lead to four. Eventually the Wolverines beat the Bison, 7-1.

Later that day Michigan pounced on Princeton, scoring five goals before the Tigers could respond. Princeton finally lobbed two goals over Armstrong’s head to get back in the game. But the three-goal deficit is the closest the Tigers would come, and Michigan won the game, 8-3.

Then Michigan felt its sweetest victory of the season, beating the Hoosiers for the Eastern Championship on their own turf.

“All year it’s been Indiana and (Michigan) head-to-head,” Welch said. “I think to beat them in their home pool with all the ups and downs this season — it makes it just that much sweeter.”