BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Goalie Heidi Ritner (Jr., Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) made 23 saves with two assists and three steals over the span of 75:27 during a 3-0 league weekend for No. 6-ranked the University of Michigan at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium to earn status as the April 15 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Defensive Player of the Week.
A three-time Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2019 following previous recognition on February 25 and March 18, Ritner allowed nine goals in three games against No. 16 Harvard University (17-2 W), No. 21 Bucknell (16-6 W) and George Washington University (14-5 W) as she helped the Maize & Blue conclude a 6-0 CWPA league regular season and clinch the No. 1 seed for the upcoming CWPA Championship on Friday-Sunday, April 26-28, in Providence, R.I., at Brown.
She made a season-high 14 saves with three steals and two assists versus Harvard in her 100th career start. Ritner allowed six goals with five saves in 27:27 against Bucknell to go along with one goal permitted and four saves during the first half versus George Washington to exceed the 700-saves career plateau.
Overall, she allowed 16 goals in 147:27 during conference play in 2019 for a 3.47 goals-against average and .698 save percentage.
April 15 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Defensive Player of the Week Honor Roll: Lauren Burns (Brown University); Alana Ponce (George Washington University); Eliza Britt (Princeton University)
