Michigan
Canada (ex)
U-M Racks Up 25 Goals in Final Exhibition Game
11/3/2019 9:48:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan defeated Pomona-Pitzer and lost to the Canadian national team.
» U-M scored 25 goals in rout of Pomona-Pitzer.
» The Wolverines drew 20 exclusions in their loss to Canada.
Site: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Aquatic Complex); Claremont, Calif. (Haldeman Pool)
Scores: Canada 12, Michigan 4; Michigan 25, Pomona-Pitzer 6
Next U-M Event:Â Sat-Sun., Jan. 18-19, 2020 -- at UCSB Winter Invitational (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
CLAREMONT, Calif. -- The University of Michigan water polo team finished off its weekend of exhibition games with a 2-3 record after a 25-6 win over Pomona-Pitzer and a 12-4 loss to the Canadian national team on Sunday (Nov. 3) at Haldeman Pool and Anteater Aquatic Complex, respectively.
The Wolverines faced some stiff competition on the weekend and were able to put the student-athletes in a variety of game situations that will be beneficial this season for such a young team this season.
Following a one-goal win over UCLA on Saturday (Nov. 2), Michigan faced a Canada team that has qualified for the 2020 Olympics before routing Pomona-Pitzer with 25 goals in the nightcap.
Game 1: Canada 12, Michigan 4
The Wolverines spread the minutes around against Canada in the first game of the day at UC Irvine.
U-M's offense drew 20 exclusions, but it only was able to take advantage once when junior Maddie O'Reilly converted a five-meter penalty. Sophomore Erin Neustrom drew a team-high six exclusions, while juniors Kathy Rogers and Sofie Pontré each earned five.
The teams were tied at 2 after eight minutes, but the Wolverines' offense was dormant the next two periods as Canada outscored them, 8-0.
O'Reilly had one assist to go with her goal. Also scoring were Skyler Pyle, Anne Rankin and Rogers.
All three goalkeepers on the trip played. Heidi Ritner stopped two shots in the first half before giving way to Sophie Jackson, who tallied three saves. Freshman Alex Brown collected two saves in the final period.
U-M Goals: O'Reilly, Pyle, Rankin, Rogers
U-M Assists: O'Reilly
U-M Saves: Jackson (3), H. Ritner (2), Brown (2)
Game 2: Michigan 25, Pomona-Pitzer 6
The offense hit its stride against Pomona-Pitzer in the final game of the weekend as the Wolverines had 11 different players score goals in a 25-6 rout.
Rogers led the team with five goals to go with one assist. Rankin had a big game with four goals and three assists to lead the team with seven points. She also drew three exclusions. Freshman Jess Henningsen had a hat trick to go with one assist, and O'Reilly also scored three times to go with two assists.
The team piled up 19 assists, sharing the ball extremely well. Freshman Sophie Tovani, who had the game-winning goal against UCLA on Saturday, dished out five assists to go with two goals.
All three goalkeepers again played in this outing. Jackson started the game and notched eight saves. Ritner added six saves and Brown stopped four shots.
U-M Goals: Rogers (5), Rankin (4), Henningsen (3), O'Reilly (3), Neustrom (2), Pontré (2), Tovani (2), May, Morrant, Pyle, Vranesh
U-M Assists: Tovani (5), Rankin (3), Abbott (2), May (2), O'Reilly (2), Harbaugh, Henningsen, Pyle, Rogers, Vranesh
U-M Saves: Jackson (8), Ritner (6), Brown (4)
Michigan will open its regular season at the UCSB Winter Invite on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19, 2020, in Santa Barbara, California. The Wolverines will play games against Cal State Northridge, UC Irvine, Cal and host UCSB.
