ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team closed out the Michigan Invitational at Canham Natatorium with two wins over top-15 teams to improve to 5-3 overall on the season.
The Wolverines had two tough tests and the defense shined in a pair of victories as U-M held No. 11 University of the Pacific to four goals (7-4 W) and No. 9 University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) to six (7-6 W).
U-M’s defense carried it to victory over Pacific to start the final day of the tournament.
The Wolverines fell behind, 2-0, in the first 4:05, but buckled down and limited the Tigers to just two more goals in the final 27:55.
Senior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner and junior defender Sofie Pontré led the defensive charge. Ritner notched a season-high 12 saves while giving up only four goals, while Pontré tallied four steals for the second straight game. Michigan recorded 11 steals in the game and added a field block.
The U-M offense featured a balanced attack with five players scoring goals. Juniors Maddie O’Reilly and Kathy Rogers led the way with two goals apiece. O’Reilly also had an assist. Pontré tacked on a goal and three assists to her stellar play on the defensive end.
One week after the Wolverines closed out the UCSB Winter Invite with a 9-7 win over host UC-Santa Barbara, Michigan again finished a tournament with a victory over the Gauchos.
The Wolverines had an early advantage as it led, 4-2 at the half and a 5-2 lead at the 6:26 mark of the third quarter. Over the next quarter, UCSB scored three straight goals to tie the game at 5 with 7:20 remaining in the final period.
Pontré scored a big goal with just under six minutes to play to give the lead back to the Maize and Blue, 6-5. Then with 2:33 remaining, Rogers gave U-M some insurance with an inside goal. UCSB cut the lead to one with 1:05 left on the clock, but Michigan ran out the clock t seal the victory.
Ritner again led the defense with eight saves, while Michigan had three field blocks to help Ritner hold UCSB to six goals.
Junior Emily Ritner and sophomore Erin Neustrom each posted two goals to lead Michigan, while O’Reilly had two assists.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
