SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan water polo team fought off rallies in a doubleheader with host/No. 16 San Diego State University, winning 12-11 in overtime and 11-10 at the Aztec Aquaplex.
The Wolverines got off to a fast start in game one, scoring five goals on seven shots to take a 5-2 lead after the first quarter. Senior Maddie O’Reilly was the offensive catalyst, converting two five-meter penalty shots and assisting on a goal from senior Emily Ritner.
Michigan extended its lead in the second quarter behind some nifty goals. Junior Ava Morrant had a long-range goal, dropping a shot into the back corner beyond SDSU goalkeeper Raquel de Pinho. After the Aztecs hit the crossbar on a breakaway, O’Reilly scored with a swift left-handed shot inside the near post to make it 7-2. Junior Erin Neustrom added another goal as the Wolverines went into the half up, 8-2.
San Diego State made its push in the third quarter, tightening things up after scoring three goals on the power play and two more via five-meter penalty shots. Ritner and freshman Kata Utassy scored the markers for the Wolverines, who went into the fourth quarter with a 10-8 lead.
The fourth quarter was frenetic, as the Aztecs took an 11-10 lead with 1:11 left to play. A power-play goal by O’Reilly tied it up with 36 seconds left, and Heidi Ritner made a save in the dying moments to send the game to overtime.
The Michigan defense locked things down in overtime. The Aztecs tried to drop on in behind Ritner, who out of the cage, but she made a recovery just in time to save it. O’Reilly also had a field block to prevent a scoring opportunity. Morrant scored the game-winner with 49 seconds left to push Michigan in front for the victory.
Less than 30 minutes later, the teams were back in the pool for the second game. It was a back-and-forth affair in the first quarter, each team matching the other on the scoreboard. Junior Sophie Jackson got the starting nod in the cage, while senior Kathy Rogers, Neustrom, graduate student Emily Byrne and sophomore Anne Rankin all tallied goals.
Michigan quickly broke a 4-4 tie in the opening moments of the second quarter behind goals from Rogers and Neustrom. O’Reilly later added another goal from a five-meter penalty shot. The defense really clamped down, holding the hosts scoreless, taking a 7-4 lead into halftime.
The Aztecs clawed back into the game after a missed five-meter penalty and a shot from senior Sofie Pontré that hit the bar. San Diego State made it a one-goal game twice in the second half, but Rankin was up to the task with an answer each time, recording a hat trick in the third and fourth quarters alone.
Another goal from Morrant made it 11-8, and after the Aztecs got it to 11-9, Jackson made a stop on a San Diego State breakaway with under a minute to play. San Diego State added another goal with nine seconds left, but ran out of time to find the equalizer as Michigan secured another one-goal victory.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
