Michigan
UC Irvine
Early Struggles Hamper Wolverines on Day One of Irvine Invite
2/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Feb. 21, 2015
• Photo Galleries: UC Irvine 
| UC Davis
• Quotes | Tournament Central
Site: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Aquatic Center)
Event: UC Irvine Invitational (Day 1)
Score: #5 UC Irvine 9, #14 Michigan 4; #13 UC Davis 7, #14 Michigan 4
Records: U-M (5-6), UCI (6-4), UCD (7-7)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 22 -- vs. Pacific - UC Irvine Invitational (Irvine, Calif.), 11:45 a.m. PST
IRVINE, Calif. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan water polo team dropped its opening games at the prestigious UC Irvine Invitational to ranked opposition, falling to No. 5 host UC Irvine, 9-4, and No. 13 UC Davis, 7-4, on Saturday (Feb. 21) at the Anteater Aquatic Center.
Junior Ali Thomason headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts, scoring four goals on the day, including her third hat trick of the season in the tournament opener against the Anteaters. Sophomores Allison Skaggs and Jamie Nolan both posted a goal and an assist on the day.
Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Browning earned the bulk of time in the Wolverine cage, earning 14 saves through 48 minutes of play, including 11 in the opener against UCI. It was her third double-digit save effort of the season. Junior Julia Campbell also earned stops for the Wolverines. Both goalies tallied an assist apiece.
Michigan fell behind early to the host Anteaters in its tournament opener, trailing 3-0 at halftime, and did not score a goal until midway through the third quarter. Thomason got the Wolverines on the board with a skip shot off a 6-on-5 opportunity to make it 4-0 with 3:50 remaining in the frame, but UCI responded with two more goals the close out the quarter, scoring on a five-meter penalty and subsequent 6-on-5.
Thomason completed the hat trick in the fourth, finishing a 6-on-5 chance with 5:36 on the clock and adding another just 30 seconds later after a Wolverine steal to again pull U-M within five. Michigan could not capitalize on several late opportunities, including an open-cage look, before junior/sophomore Bryce Beckwith narrowed the final score with a one-timer in the two minutes.
The Wolverines again suffered from a slow start in their evening slate against UCD, falling behind 3-0 before chipping away with two goals in the second. Senior Elizabeth Williams netted Michigan's first tally of the game on a sweep shot midway through the frame and Skaggs added another 36 seconds later on the outlet bar down. The Aggies responded, however, reestablishing their two-goal lead with a pair late in the frame.
The teams traded a goal apiece in the third and fourth quarters. Thomason scored on an overhead in the former, while Nolan scored cross-cage midway through the latter.
The Wolverines return to action Sunday, first facing No. 19 Pacific on Sunday (Feb. 22) at 11:45 a.m. PST before playing either No. 16 UC San Diego or No. 18 UC Santa Barbara. Potential game times are 4 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. PST.
GAME SUMMARIES
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan (5-5) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| UC Irvine (6-4) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
UCI Goals: Danielle Warde 2, McKenna Mitchell 2, Cambria Shockley, Gabby Pierandozzi, Natalie Seidemann, Destene Albers, Julie Swieca
Saves: U-M 11 (Emily Browning), UCI 13 (Jillian Yocum)
Ejections: U-M 8, UCI 5
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Michigan (5-6) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| UC Davis (7-7) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
UCD Goals: Ariel Arcidiacono 2, Allyson Hansen, Elsie Fullerton, Hannah Harvey, Greta Kohlmoos, Paige Virgil
Saves: U-M 5 (Emily Browning 3, Julia Campbell 2), UCD 4 (Jillian Wilding)
Ejections: U-M 2, UCSB 5
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Marcelo Leonardi
On the Wolverines' day ... "We struggled offensively today. We struggled to put the ball in the cage. We only scored four goals in both games. We need to score more than four goals unless we only give up three. We also struggled in goal. We need to be a little more consistent there."
On how to improve the Wolverines' scoring ... "We're breaking it down, position by position, in terms of what their roles are and what we're trying to look for with advantages and how we can create opportunities to score. It starts with the defense, with our counter attack and our center play in the front court. If our centers don't do a great job demanding the zones, then teams press us. If teams press us, we need to have the ability to move the ball on the perimeter effectively to create opportunities. Once we create those opportunities, whether it's on two meters or on 6-on-5, we have to execute and put the ball in the cage. It's about doing all the steps right to get to that final product."
On looking for more consistency ... "I felt we took a couple steps back today. We've made huge jumps, taken 2-3 steps forward every two weeks, but today we took two steps back, and I told them that. In order for us to be an elite team, we need to be consistent on good and bad days. They need to find a way to win these close games even when they're in a lull. You're going to have peaks and valleys throughout the season, it's how you recover and recuperate the following day."
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
