Michigan
UCLA
Michigan Finishes Opening Weekend 3-2
1/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
» Michigan went 3-2 on opening weekend.
» Heidi Ritner recorded 47 saves on the weekend.
» Julia Sellers recorded three hat tricks in five games.
Site: Santa Barbara, Calif. (UCSB Campus Pool)
Event: UCSB Winter Invite
Score: #3 UCLA 12, #8 Michigan 5; #8 Michigan 18, #23 CSU Northridge 5
Records: U-M (3-2), UCLA (5-0), CSUN (1-3)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Feb. 4-5 -- at Stanford Invite (Palo Alto, Calif.)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team split its final two games of the UCSB Winter Invite on opening weekend, falling to No. 3 UCLA, 12-5, and defeating No. 23 CSUN, 18-5, on Sunday (Jan. 22) at UCSB Campus Pool.
"The speed and intensity from the game against UCLA carried over into the second game," said junior Caroline Anderson. We came out strong against CSUN. We put an emphasis on playing solid defense, which led to many counter-attack opportunities. Our offense was sharp, creating many open looks."
Game 1: No. 3 UCLA 12, No. 8 Michigan 5
In its third top-10 matchup in just four games, Michigan once again challenged itself to start the season. The Wolverines were held to one goal in the first half, an outside shot by freshman Maddy Steere. UCLA built a 6-1 lead in the opening 16 minutes of play.
U-M showed a lot of fight in the second half as the Bruins only outscored them 6-4. Sophomore Julia Sellers continued her high-scoring opening weekend with back-to-back goals in the third period to cut the lead to 7-4. That was as close as U-M got, but Sellers later added one more on a penalty shot for the hat trick.
Freshman goalkeeper Heidi Ritner was once again outstanding in goal. She tallied 14 saves in the contest. Sophomore Kim Johnson was Michigan's other goal scorer, scoring through a double team in the second quarter.
Game 2: No. 8 Michigan 18, No. 23 CSUN 5
Michigan's offense caught fire in the final game of the weekend as three different players netted three or more goals and seven players in all put marks in the scoring column.
U-M scored four goals in each of the first two periods to lead 8-2 at halftime. The offense exploded for seven goals in the third quarter alone.
Anderson came up big for the Wolverines, scoring five goals to go with two assists and three steals. Johnson netted four goals, and Sellers continued her rampage with her third hat trick of the weekend. She also had one assist and two steals.
Ritner played three quarters, allowing only four goals and stopping six shots. Senior Emily Browning came in to play the fourth, making three saves and giving up a lone goal.
Michigan will have next weekend off before returning to competition Feb. 4-5 at the Stanford Invite in Palo Alto, California. U-M will play four games, starting with UC Davis at 11 a.m. PST on Saturday, Feb. 4.
