Michigan
USC
U-M Drops Top-10 Battles, Takes Fourth at Triton Invitational
2/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
» Michigan held No. 2 USC to a season-low nine goals.
» The Wolverines placed fourth in the Triton Invitational.
» Freshman Heidi Ritner made 17 saves vs. UC Irvine.
Site: La Jolla, Calif. (Canyonview Aquatic Center)
Event: Triton Invitational (Day 2)
Scores: #2 USC 9, #6 Michigan 5; #8 UC Irvine 8, #6 Michigan 7 (OT)
Records: U-M (8-5), USC (13-0), UCI (7-3)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., Feb. 24-26 -- at Irvine Tournament (Irvine, Calif.)
LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The No. 6 University of Michigan water polo team placed fourth at the Triton Invitational after losing two high-level games against No. 2 USC (9-5) and No. 8 UC Irvine (8-7 OT) on Sunday (Feb. 12).
It was an impressive weekend for the Wolverines despite the two losses Sunday. After allowing just six total goals in winning twice Saturday, Michigan did something no other team had done against No. 2 USC this season by holding the high-scoring Trojans to fewer than 10 goals.
For the second straight week Michigan took on a top-10 opponent in a third-place game of a tournament. This time around it was No. 8 UC Irvine. The game was back and forth and saw U-M tie it up with 1:26 to go. After 5:25 of scoreless overtime play, the Anteaters scored with 35 seconds left on the clock and held on for the win in a great battle.
Game 1: No. 2 USC 9, No. 6 Michigan 5
This was the second time Michigan faced No. 2 USC this season. The two teams met in the season opener with the Trojans winning, 11-3. This time around Michigan played them tougher.
The Wolverines twice cut the lead to one goal in the third period. Coming out of halftime, senior Allison Skaggs had the first goal to make it 4-3 USC. After a Trojans goal, sophomore Kim Johnson tallied the first of her two goals in the game to bring it to 5-4.
USC showed its power with three straight goals after that. The two teams combined for seven goals in the third period, matching the goal total from the rest of the game. USC did not allow a fourth-quarter goal, closing out the victory, 9-5.
It was another impressive defensive performance for Michigan as freshman Heidi Ritner had nine saves and the Wolverines held USC, which entered the game averaging 19.8 goals per game, 10 goals below its average. It was the first time this season the Trojans were held to single digits on the scoreboard. In their 13 games, the two lowest scoring totals have come vs. the Wolverines.
Junior Caroline Anderson had two assists in the contest, and freshman Maddy Steere scored the first goal of the game on a penalty shot.
Game 2: No. 8 UC Irvine 8, No. 6 Michigan 7 (OT)
The third-place game was an overtime thriller that saw UC Irvine come out on top with a goal in the second three-minute overtime period. The Anteaters scored with 35 seconds left, and Michigan was unable to even the score and face sudden-death overtime.
Ritner was stellar in goal for the Wolverines. The rookie racked up 17 saves, including four in overtime, to keep the game close. The 17 saves tie for the sixth most in a game in school history. Her previous high this season was 14 saves against UCLA.
It took a late comeback for the Wolverines to force overtime to begin with. With U-M down 7-5 after a UCI goal at the 3:58 mark of the fourth quarter, Steere led the Michigan charge. She converted a five-meter penalty shot with 2:43 left and then scored again with 1:26 to go to even the score at 7-7.
Michigan led by two goals in third period. After the two teams were tied at 3-3 at halftime, senior Danielle Johnson and Anderson each scored in the third. UC Irvine scored with 42 seconds left in the period to start a 4-0 run over a five-minute span.
The first half was very tightly played with neither team leading by more than one goal and each squad scoring three goals through 16 minutes.
Danielle Johnson contributed to the great Michigan effort on defense with three field blocks and two steals to go with two assists. Steere had two goals and an assist.
The Wolverines will have next weekend off as they prepare for the Irvine Tournament Feb. 24-26. Last year U-M came up with two huge wins on the final day of the tournament to leap into the top five in the rankings and show it could play at a high level with the nation's best.
