Michigan
Harvard
Michigan Posts 4-1 Conference Weekend in Boston
4/8/2018 6:51:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan finished the weekend with a 4-1 record, playing five games in 30 hours.
» A sudden-death overtime loss to No. 15 Princeton ends 20-game win streak.
» The Wolverines scored 70 goals in five weekend games.
Site: Boston, Mass. (Blodgett Pool)
Scores: Game 1: Michigan 12, Harvard 7; Game 2: Princeton 8, Michigan 7 SD OT
Records: #9 Michigan (27-8, 5-1 CWPA), #22 Harvard (14-13, 1-2 CWPA), #15 Princeton (17-7, 4-0 CWPA)
Next U-M Event: April 14, vs. Saint Francis (Pa.), Hartwick (Canham Natatorium)
BOSTON -- The No. 9 University of Michigan water polo team split two games against ranked opponents on Sunday (April 8) to end the conference weekend with a 4-1 record.
The Wolverines capped off a five-game stretch in less than 30 hours with an 8-7, sudden-death overtime setback against No. 15 Princeton. Earlier in the day, Michigan defeated No. 22 Harvard, 12-7.
Head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi had led U-M to 24 straight regular-season conference wins and U-M saw its 20-game win streak end at the hands of the Tigers.
Game 1: No. 9 Michigan 12, No. 22 Harvard 7
Michigan utilized a stretch in the middle of the game during which it went on a 7-0 run over 16:57 to turn a 3-all game into a comfortable lead.
During the 7-0 run, three different Wolverines scored twice to lead the charge. Senior Christina O'Beck, sophomore Maddy Steere and freshman Kathy Rogers each posted two goals as U-M opened up the big lead.
Harvard outscored the Wolverines, 4-2, in the fourth quarter with two of those goals coming in the last 1:15 with the game well in hand for Michigan.
Steere led the way with four goals and three steals, her third straight game with a hat trick. O'Beck and Rogers also ended up with hat tricks in the contest. Rogers also added an assist and two steals.
Game 2: No. 15 Princeton 8, No. 9 Michigan 7 (sudden-death OT)
Princeton scored the game-winning goal from the inside with 1:21 to go in sudden-death overtime, ending Michigan's 20-game win streak and 24-game regular-season conference play. The Tigers were the last CWPA team to beat the Wolverines during the regular season, a 9-7 win in 2015.
The two teams played a scoreless first overtime period. Junior Kim Johnson gave Michigan its first lead of the game, 35 seconds into the second overtime period. With one second left on the shot clock, she rose up and fired from deep for the goal to earn her second goal of the game. Princeton tied the game 32 seconds later with a 6-on-5 goal and the game would go to sudden death as both defenses locked down in the final minute.
Princeton built an early 3-1 lead in the first quarter and Michigan had to claw its way back into the game. U-M cut the lead to one goal three times and was finally able to tie it up at 6 on a goal by Julia Sellers with 1:49 to play in the game. The Wolverines played outstanding defense to help them come back, holding the Tigers scoreless for the final 10:30 of regulation.
Sellers led the team with a hat trick to finish the weekend with 15 goals and five assists. Senior Caroline Anderson added three assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Heidi Ritner played a career-high 39:39 in the cage, finishing with seven saves and three steals in the loss.
Michigan will conclude the regular season with its final two home games on Saturday (April 14) as the Wolverines host Saint Francis (Pa.) and Hartwick at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines will honor their three seniors Caroline Anderson, Laura Jimenez and Christina O'Beck.
