SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — No. 9-ranked the University of Michigan opened the 2019 season with a win and a loss at the University of California-Santa Barbara Winter Invitational.
The Wolverines started off the year against No. 1 University of Southern California (USC) and struggled to get anything going offensively in a 9-2 loss. The offense found its rhythm in the second game of the day as U-M claimed its first win of the season, 11-5, over No. 18 California State University-Northridge. Four players scored two goals in the victory, and the defense allowed just one goal in the second half.
Michigan had a tall task in its first game of the season as it took on No. 1 USC, the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Champion. The Wolverines looked to be in a good position in the second quarter when senior Kim Johnson stole the ball and passed it ahead to senior Julia Sellers for a goal to tie the score at 1 at the 6:07 mark. USC then had the Wolverines’ number over the next two periods, going on an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Michigan was held scoreless until sophomore Maddy Johnston picked up a fourth-quarter goal with 1:51 to play to make the final score 9-2. Junior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner tallied seven saves in the game and was aided by five field blocks by her defense.
The Wolverines saw an increase in production on the offensive end of the pool against CSUN, scoring four goals in both the first and second quarters.
Michigan went on a key 4-0 run after CSUN had cut the lead to 6-4 in the second quarter. The Matadors would only score one more goal the final 19:44 minutes of the game as the U-M defense adjusted after giving up three first-quarter goals.
Junior goalkeeper Cameron Cordial entered the game at halftime with an 8-4 lead and held the Matadors to just one goal in the second half while making three saves and recording four steals. She replaced Ritner, who tallied five saves in the first half.
Four different players scored twice in the contest. Johnston and Sellers each added to their goal from the first game to finish the day with a team-high three scores. Johnson and freshman Erin Neustrom also had two goals.
Neustrom tallied her first collegiate in the first quarter, while newcomer Abby Andrews followed with her first collegiate goal in the third period. Neustrom was impressive on the offensive end, drawing five exclusions from CSUN.
Sophomore Maddie O’Reilly helped get the offense going with three assists.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
