LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan water polo team continued its high-octane offensive performances with a combined 35 goals in victories over No. 24 California Baptist University, 17-6, and Fresno Pacific University, 18-3, at Loyola Marymount University’s LMU Invitational to extend its win streak to 13 games.
U-M had two of its highest-scoring games of the season in a pair of victories, matching a season high with 17 goals against No. 24 Cal Baptist and then topped that effort by one goal in a 15-goal win over Fresno Pacific.
Michigan used a big second half to blow by Cal Baptist for the Wolverines’ 12th consecutive win. The Wolverines scored 11 goals after halftime to match their season high of 17 goals. It was the fifth time in the last nine games they have scored 15 goals or more.
Junior Julia Sellers led Michigan with five goals. Sellers matched her previous career high of five goals she set last weekend as she has 14 goals over her last four games.
The Wolverines came out strong in each quarter and scored the first three goals in each of the first three quarters and the first goal six seconds into the fourth.
Sophomore Maddy Steere almost matched Sellers as she scored four times in the game. Senior Caroline Anderson posted four assists, while junior Kim Johnson and freshman Maddie O’Reilly each scored two goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Heidi Ritner went the distance with six saves and six goals allowed.
The Wolverines put together another dominant performance in the second game of the day as they scored the game’s first 14 goals in topping Fresno Pacific.
Michigan received scoring contributions from 11 different players as they racked up a season-high 18 goals to reach 20 wins on the year.
Freshman Maddy Johnston netted a hat trick 3:21 into the game. She would finish with a team-high four goals to match her top scoring output of the year.
Two of Johnston’s classmates, freshmen Emily Ritner and O’Reilly, each had two goals. Emily Ritner also dished out three assists, while O’Reilly had two. Senior Christina O’Beck and Sellers also scored twice as U-M piled on the goals. The Wolverines scored 11 in the first half and held Fresno Pacific scoreless until the 1:06 mark of the third quarter.
Heidi Ritner did not allow a goal in her 16 minutes in the cage. She made five saves and had two steals in the win. Freshman Sara Campbell replaced her at the half and made one save to go along with two assists and two steals.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
