SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The No. 12 University of Michigan water polo team (2-1) defeated No. 19 Cal State Northridge (1-2) and No. 24 Cal Baptist (1-3) for its first two victories of the season on Saturday (Jan. 23) on the campus of UCSB.
“We found ourselves playing at a super high level in our first game of the year yesterday,” said head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. “We were able to maintain that level of play and execute at a high level in both games today.”
After a back-and-forth game that came down to the final seconds yesterday with No. 7 Hawai’i (10-11), Michigan reached double figures in scoring in both games again today. Nine different players scored for the Wolverines in the two games, showing depth and a balanced offense.
“Our defense got better from game to game,” said Leonardi. “The defense created opportunities for us to score on the counter attack. We were also patient on offense and systematically were able to break the defenses down.”
Game 1: Michigan 12, Cal State Northridge 4
The Wolverines bounced back from a loss in the final seconds yesterday to pick up their first win of 2016. Head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi led U-M to a 12-4 win over his former team, Cal State Northridge, to start the day.
Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 start in the first 3:30 minutes of the contest. The Wolverines would outscore the Matadors 5-1 in the first period, including two goals by junior Allison Skaggs.
U-M tacked on three goals in a two-minute span midway through the second quarter and went into the break up 8-2. Three more goals in the third gave them an 11-2 lead and allowed sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Moore to enter the game in the fourth for her collegiate debut.
Senior goalkeeper Julia Campbell made seven saves to earn the victory. The Wolverines only allowed three shots on the cage during the fourth quarter and closed out the victory, 12-4.
Freshman Sami Pratt also made her collegiate debut, while her classmate Julia Sellers scored her first career goal at the end of the first period. Amy Ridge, a freshman who joined the team three weeks ago had four steals in the match to tie for the team lead with sophomore Caroline Anderson.
Anderson, Skaggs and freshman Kim Johnson all tied for the team best with three goals apiece. Kim Johnson has come out on fire to start her college career with three goals in each of the first two games.
Game 2: Michigan 15, Cal Baptist 6
The Wolverines’ offense was on fire in the second half with 10 goals, breaking open a three-goal game heading out of halftime.
The two teams combined for 22 exclusions, which created numerous power play advantages on both ends of the pool. U-M had three five-meter penalty shots in the game, scoring on all three chances with senior Ali Thomason putting in two and senior Kelly Martin the third.
Thomason exploded with five goals in the game, including two in the fourth period. It is the second time in her career she has scored at least five goals. The other came last year when she notched a career-best six goals against Indiana.
Thomason was one of eight different Wolverines to put the ball in the back of the goal in the game. Skaggs, Danielle Johnson and Kim Johnson each scored two goals. Freshmen Sami Pratt and Amy Ridge each recorded their first career goal.
Campbell again got the start in goal, allowing just three goals in three periods of play while making nine saves. Moore again relieved her in goal for the final period.
Michigan will finish up its opening weekend at the UCSB Invitational with two matches tomorrow (Jan. 24) in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Wolverines take on No. 8 San Jose State at 11 a.m. PT and then No. 2 UCLA at2:30 p.m. PT.
Michigan 12, Cal State Northridge 4
U-M Goals: Caroline Anderson 3, Allison Skaggs 3, Kim Johnson 3, Danielle Johnson, Julia Sellers, Ali Thomason
Cal State Northridge Goals: Katelyn Fairchild, McKenzie Pollei, Madeleine Sanchez, Taitum Herrington
Saves:
U-M 7 (Julia Campbell 7, Katherine Moore 0)
Cal State Northridge Not kept
Michigan 15, Cal Baptist 6
U-M Goals: Ali Thomason 5, Allison Skaggs 2, Danielle Johnson 2, Kim Johnson 2, Caroline Anderson, Kelly Martin, Amy Ridge, Sami Pratt
Cal Baptist Goals: Hannah Evans 4, Paizlee Dreyer, Laura Kocsis
Saves:U-M 9 (Julia Campbell 9), CBU Not kept
Swimming news courtesy of Michigan Water Polo.