IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated No. 9 University of California-Santa Barbara for a third time this season by taking a 5-4 victory to place seventh at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational hosted by the University of California-Irvine.
UCSB struck first just 45 seconds into the game. Then at the 5:40 mark, sophomore Erin Neustrom drew a penalty foul and junior Maddie O’Reilly converted the goal to even the score. Neither team could crack the scoreboard the rest of the opening quarter as the score remained tied at one-all.
After only two goals in the first quarter, the offense did not pick up in the second as UCSB scored the only goal to lead, 2-1, at halftime.
The second half started with the teams struggling to find any offense, but at the 4:17 mark in the third quarter Neustrom tied the game at two-all, ending a scoring drought of 17:23. UCSB regained the lead at the 2:52 mark, but Sofie Pontré scored on a power play on U-M’s next possession to send the game into the fourth period tied at three-all.
Neustrom gave Michigan its first lead of the contest 31 seconds into the fourth with her second goal of the game. She completed the hat trick three minutes after UCSB tied the game again to put the Wolverines up, 5-4.
A field block by Pontré in the final minute helped seal the victory for Michigan.
Neustrom’s hat trick was her second of the season and added to her three drawn exclusions. O’Reilly had one goal and one assist.
The defense had six field blocks with junior Emily Ritner collecting three and junior Kathy Rogers added two. Senior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner tallied eight saves to help hold the Gauchos to just four goals.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
