Michigan
UC Davis
U-M Collects Home Wins over No. 5 Arizona State, No. 13 UC Davis
3/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
» The seventh-ranked Wolverines avenged last weekend's overtime loss to Arizona State by toppling the Sun Devils, 7-6, in their second game. Senior Danielle Johnson recorded a hat trick in the first half.
» Johnson and sophomore Julia Sellers each scored four goals in Michigan's 13-7 win over No. 13 UC Davis in the first game.
» Freshmen Cameron Cordial and Arija Walsh made their collegiate debuts vs. UC Davis.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Wolverine Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #7 Michigan 13, #13 UC Davis 7; #7 Michigan 7, #5 Arizona State 6
Records: U-M (12-7), UC Davis (9-12), ASU (10-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 5 -- vs. UC Irvine - Wolverine Invitational (Canham Natatorium), 8 a.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7 University of Michigan water polo team showed off in front of its home fans Saturday (March 4), beating No. 13 UC Davis (13-7) and No. 5 Arizona State (7-6) to open the Wolverine Invitational.
Game 1: No. 7 Michigan 13, No. 13 UC Davis 7
The Wolverines were excited to make their home debut in front of friends and family at Canham Natatorium, and senior Danielle Johnson and sophomore Julia Sellers led Michigan to an impressive 13-7 win over UC Davis with four goals each. Johnson had a hat trick within the first 11 minutes of the game and added two assists in the contest.
The Aggies scored a goal just 29 seconds into the game, but Michigan's defense only allowed one more goal the rest of the first half, building a 6-2 advantage.
After a Sellers goal made it 11-6 with 1:28 to go in the game, U-M head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi sent in some subs off the bench. Among them were freshman goalkeeper Cameron Cordial and freshman center Arija Walsh, who were making their collegiate debuts. On the next possession, Cordial stopped a shot for her first career save.
Freshman Heidi Ritner made nine saves for the Wolverines, while classmate Maddy Steere had one goal, three assists and two steals.
Game 2: No. 7 Michigan 7, No. 5 Arizona State 6
The Wolverines scored just their third-ever win over a top-five ranked team, holding on to a 7-6 win over Arizona State in their second game Saturday to avenge last weekend's overtime loss by the same score in Irvine, California. Johnson led the way with a first-half hat trick, completing the feat with three seconds left in the second period to give U-M a 4-1 lead heading into halftime.
The Sun Devils began to make their push in the third period, sneaking one past Ritner to make it 4-2 before hitting consecutive shots off the post. Steere got the goal back with 1:35 left in the third to regain the three-goal lead.
Senior Allison Skaggs made it 6-2 with 4:26 to play, but Arizona State roared back with two goals in the span of 90 seconds to make the score 6-4 with 2:23 left. The Wolverines stemmed the tide with a successful five-meter penalty shot from Sellers, which came as a result of sophomore Kim Johnson getting swallowed up right in front of the goal.
Arizona State did get two goals back, pulling within one with 10 seconds left, but it ran out of time thereafter, sealing the win for Michigan.
Michigan will close out the Wolverine Invitational with games against No. 6 UC Irvine at 8 a.m. and Santa Clara at 4:10 p.m. on Sunday (March 5).
