Michigan
Long Beach State (ex)
U-M Closes Collegiate Cup with Wins over LBSU, CSUN
11/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Nov. 9, 2014
• Photo Galleries: Long Beach State 
| CSU Northridge
• Tournament Schedule
Site: Irvine, Calif. (William Woollett Aquatics Center)
Event: USA Water Polo Collegiate Cup (Day 2 of 2)
Scores: Michigan 10, Long Beach State 8; Michigan 13, CSU Northridge 10 (exhibition)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., Jan. 23-25 -- at UCSB Winter Invite (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
IRVINE, Calif. -- The University of Michigan water polo team closed out its appearance at the inaugural USA Water Polo Collegiate Cup with a pair of strong victories, defeating Long Beach State, 10-8, and CSU Northridge, 13-10, on Sunday (Nov. 9) at the William Woollett Aquatics Center. Both opposing teams finished the 2013 season ranked among the nation's top 13.
"I thought they executed the system very well today," said head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. "We're getting better every single game. The benefit of playing Cal and USC first is that we were able to build off those small successes. Playing Long Beach and Northridge today -- where one of them might very well be in the Big West championship game this year -- it was great for the girls, because it was proof in the pudding. They believed in the system, and we grew as a team."
Eight different Wolverine players scored goals, including four that posted at least one in each game. Junior Presley Pender headlined the goal scorers with five tallies, including three against Long Beach. Senior Danielle Robinson also recorded a hat trick against the 49ers, while freshman Caroline Anderson recorded four goals, and sophomore Allison Skaggs notched three against Northridge.
Sophomore Emily Browning and junior Julia Campbell split time in the Wolverine goal, combining for nine saves against LBSU and 12 against CSUN. Browning registered seven stops in the day's first contest, while both goalies posted six against the Matadors.
"We've only been together for about two-and-a-half months," said Leonardi. "They really looked like a team this weekend. They understand what it means to represent Michigan with the block M and tradition that comes with it, and they also understand what it is to represent Michigan water polo out in Southern California. I feel like we came out here and turned a lot of heads and gained a lot of respect. They also gained confidence -- in themselves, each other, their team and their coaching staff.
"We learned a lot this weekend, because we were able to match up with different teams that could show us our strengths and some of the deficiencies that we still need to work on. We've gathered enough data and evidence to go back to the drawing board and show them certain things. It also shows me what we need for the future in recruiting. It's a great benchmark for right now and for the future."
With the Collegiate Cup tournament, the Wolverines wrap up their fall 20-hour-per-week practice period and will return to eight hours of skill instruction. Michigan officially kicks off its 2015 season at the UCSB Winter Invite on Jan. 23-25 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
