Michigan
CSUN
Michigan Splits on First Day of UCSB Winter Invitational
1/18/2020 7:39:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan began its season with an 8-7 win over No. 22 Cal State Northridge
» Five players make their collegiate debuts
» Sophomore Ava Morrant notches first two career hat tricks
Site: Santa Barbara, Calif. (UCSB Campus Pool)
Event: UCSB Winter Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #7 Michigan 8, Cal State Northridge 7; #5 UC Irvine 14, #7 Michigan 9
Records: U-M (1-1), CSUN (1-2), UC Irvine (2-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 19 -- vs. No. 4 California - UCSB Winter Invitational, Day 2 (Santa Barbara, Calif.), 8:30 a.m. PST; at No. 11 UC Santa Barbara, 12:15 p.m. PST
• Boxscores (PDF): Cal State Northridge | UC Irvine
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team opened its 2020 season Saturday (Jan. 18) at the UCSB Winter Invitational with the Wolverines splitting a pair of games at UCSB Campus Pool.
The Wolverines began the day against No. 22 Cal State Northridge and held on late for an 8-7 victory. Four players made their collegiate debuts for Michigan in the contest. One more player would make her debut against No. 5 UC Irvine as U-M fell, 14-9, in the second game of the day.
No. 7 Michigan 8, No. 22 CSUN 7
Michigan went into Saturday's morning game coming off a short turnaround from late travel on Friday, while CSUN played two games before facing the Wolverines.
The game was neck-and-neck late in the fourth quarter tied at 7 with under three minutes to play. Sophomore Kayla Barone took a big outside shot for U-M and scored with 2:24 remaining to give the Wolverines the advantage. From there, the defense was able to get stops down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Michigan scored two goals to start the third period and led by as many as three goals, but the Wolverines held a one-goal lead, 5-4, at halftime. CSUN battled back with three straight tallies -- two in the third period and one in teh fourth -- to knot the game at 7 with just over seven minutes to play.
The Wolverines received a big game from sophomore Ava Morrant who had career highs in goals (three), points (three) and drawn exclusions (two). Junior Maddie O'Reilly and freshman Anne Rankin each had one goal and two assists.
Rankin scored the first goal of 2020 for the Wolverines 48 seconds into the game as she earned the start in her collegiate debut. Also making their collegiate debuts were freshmen Ella Abbott and Sophie Tovani along with sophomore goalkeeper Sophie Jackson.
Jackson played the second half with one save and three goals allowed to earn her first career win. Senior Heidi Ritner drew the start, stopping five shots and allowing four goals in the first half.
No. 5 UC Irvine 14, No. 7 Michigan 9
Michigan soared out of the gate against the Anteaters. Rankin once again got the Wolverines on the board first with her first of two goals in the contest. Goals by Morrant and Barone helped U-M build a 3-1 lead in the early going.
UC Irvine scored five goals in the second period to stage a comeback and took a 7-5 lead into halftime. They continued the surge in the third period with four straight goals before Michigan stopped the run with a goal by Barone with 37 seconds left in the quarter.
The two teams played an even fourth period at with both teams scoring three goals, but Michigan could not cut into the five-goal deficit.
Morrant led U-M with her second hat trick of the day. Barone and Rankin each chipped in two goals while junior Emily Ritner had one goal and two assists.
Ritner made eight saves in three quarters but took the loss in the cage. Jackson replaced her in the fourth period, making one stop.
Michigan will play its final two games of the weekend Sunday (Jan. 19), starting the day with a contest against No. 4 California at 8:30 p.m. PST and will follow it with a 12:15 p.m. PST game against the host UC Santa Barbara.
