SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team opened its 2020 season Sat the University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) Winter Invitational with the Wolverines splitting a pair of games at UCSB Campus Pool.
The Wolverines began the day against No. 22 California State University-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 University of California-Irvine as U-M fell, 14-9, in the second game of the day.
In the Wolverines’ season-opener, Michigan went into the morning game coming off a short turnaround from late travel on Friday, January 17, while CSUN played two games before facing the Wolverines.
The game was neck-and-neck late in the fourth quarter tied at seven-all 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 quarter 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 seven-all 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.
In the day’s finale, Michigan soared out of the gate against the UC-Irvine 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.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
