Michigan
USC
Michigan Starts Season With a Win and a Loss at UCSB Winter Invitational
1/19/2019 7:02:00 PM | Water Polo
» The Wolverines picked up their first win of the season over No. 18 CSUN.
» Four players scored two goals in the win over CSUN.
» Michigan dropped its season opener to No. 1 USC, 9-2.
Site: Santa Barbara, Calif. (UCSB Campus Pool & Rec Center)
Event: UCSB Winter Invite
Scores: #1 USC 9, #9 Michigan 2; #9 Michigan 11, #18 Cal State Northridge 5
Records: U-M (1-1), USC (3-0), CSUN (1-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 20 -- vs. #3 UCLA (11 a.m. PST), vs Fresno State (2 p.m. PST) at UCSB Winter Invite (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
• Boxscores: USC | Cal State Northridge
• Photo Galleries: USC | Cal State Northridge
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The No. 9 University of Michigan water polo team opened the 2019 season with a win and a loss at the UCSB Winter Invite on Saturday (Jan. 19).
The Wolverines started off the year against No. 1 USC and struggled to get anything going offensively in a 9-2 loss. The offense found its rhythm in the second game of the day as U-M claimed its first win of the season, 11-5, over No. 18 Cal State Northridge. Four players scored two goals in the victory, and the defense allowed just one goal in the second half.
Game 1: #1 USC 9, #9 Michigan 2
Michigan had a tall task in its first game of the season as it took on No. 1 USC, the 2018 national champion. The Wolverines looked to be in a good position in the second quarter when senior Kim Johnson stole the ball and passed it ahead to senior Julia Sellers for a goal to tie the score at 1 at the 6:07 mark. USC then had the Wolverines' number over the next two periods, going on an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Michigan was held scoreless until sophomore Maddy Johnston picked up a fourth-quarter goal with 1:51 to play to make the final score 9-2. Junior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner tallied seven saves in the game and was aided by five field blocks by her defense.
Game 2: #9 Michigan 11, #18 CSUN 5
The Wolverines saw an increase in production on the offensive end of the pool against CSUN, scoring four goals in both the first and second quarters.
Michigan went on a key 4-0 run after CSUN had cut the lead to 6-4 in the second quarter. The Matadors would only score one more goal the final 19:44 minutes of the game as the U-M defense adjusted after giving up three first-quarter goals.
Junior goalkeeper Cameron Cordial entered the game at halftime with an 8-4 lead and held the Matadors to just one goal in the second half while making three saves and recording four steals. She replaced Ritner, who tallied five saves in the first half.
Four different players scored twice in the contest. Johnston and Sellers each added to their goal from the first game to finish the day with a team-high three scores. Johnson and freshman Erin Neustrom also had two goals.
Neustrom tallied her first collegiate in the first quarter, while newcomer Abby Andrews followed with her first collegiate goal in the third period. Neustrom was impressive on the offensive end, drawing five exclusions from CSUN.
Sophomore Maddie O'Reilly helped get the offense going with three assists.
Michigan will play its final two games of the weekend tomorrow (Sunday, Jan. 20). The Wolverines have another top-10 matchup to start the day at 11 a.m. PST against No. 3 UCLA and then will follow with a 2 p.m. PST game against Fresno State.
