Michigan
UC Davis
Wolverines Close Out Triton Invite with Two Wins
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Feb. 8, 2015
Site: San Diego, Calif. (Triton Pool)
Event: Triton Invitational (Day 2)
Score: #14 Michigan 10, #16 UC Davis 9 (OT); #14 Michigan 6, #18 UC Santa Barbara 4
Records: U-M (5-4), UCD (3-6), UCSB (6-6)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Feb. 21-22 -- at Anteater Invitational (Irvine, Calif.)
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan water polo team closed out the Triton Invitational with a pair of wins on Sunday (Feb. 8), defeating No. 16 UC Davis, 10-9, in overtime before surging past No. 18 UC Santa Barbara, 6-4, in the ninth-place game at UC San Diego's Triton Pool.
Senior Elizabeth Williams headlined the Wolverines' offensive efforts on the day, scoring five goals, including her second career hat trick against UC Davis, and adding an assist. Sophomore Allison Skaggs also recorded a hat trick against the Aggies, while juniors Presley Pender and Kelly Martin both scored two goals apiece. Freshman Caroline Anderson boasted five assists.
The Wolverine goalkeepers were stellar in both contests. Sophomore Emily Browning posted 12 saves against UC Davis -- her second double-digit effort of the weekend -- while junior Julia Campbell stopped 10 in the finale against UC Santa Barbara.
Michigan rallied from an early deficit to defeat UCSB in its tournament finale. The Wolverines trailed 1-0 after the first quarter and 3-2 at halftime before evening the score -- for the third time -- with a Williams tally on their first possession in the third quarter.
Martin gave U-M its first lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, and, after the Gauchos tied the game on a 6-on-5, the Wolverines surged ahead with two unanswered goals. Williams completed her hat trick at the 5:08 mark, before Martin added another, an insurance tally, at 3:15.
It marks the Wolverines' second win against UCSB this season.
The Wolverines led throughout much of the morning's cross-bracket round against UC Davis but needed extra time to secure the victory. Five different U-M players scored goals, including three apiece from Williams and Skaggs. The latter netted the lone goal of the overtime frames.
Michigan led 3-1 after the first quarter and 4-2 midway through the second, before the Aggies bookended the halftime break with a pair of goals to even the score at 4-4. The Wolverines twice reestablished their two-goal lead with two 6-on-5 tallies, but UCD scored twice in the final two minutes of the third, including a power-play marker with 1:02 to play.
The Aggies took their first lead with a goal at the 4:14 mark in the fourth, but Williams answered with the equalizer after the next restart just 18 seconds later. UCD regained the lead quickly, but Michigan again responded as junior/sophomore Bryce Beckwith netted a backhand with 1:49 to play to force the extra time -- U-M's first overtime of the season.
Both teams failed to convert on early 6-on-5 opportunities early in the first overtime frame, before Skaggs put the Wolverines ahead for good, taking a pass from Anderson and scoring on a backhand from set with 56 seconds on the clock.
The Wolverines return to action in weeks, heading to Irvine, California, for the annual Anteater Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22. Michigan's tournament schedule will be released when it is finalized.
GAME SUMMARIES
| By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | OT | F |
| Michigan (4-4) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| UC Davis (3-6) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
UCD Goals: Keella Houston 4, Allyson Hansen 2, Carla Tocchini, Ariel Arcidiacono, Hannah Harvey
Saves: U-M 12 (Emily Browning), UCD N/A (Jillian Wilding)
Ejections: U-M 8, UCD 5
U-M Goals: Kelly Martin 2, Elizabeth Williams 2, Heidi Moreland, Allison Skaggs
UCSB Goals: Samantha Murphy, Jenna Solberg, Taylor Shore, Camila Schafer
Saves: U-M 10 (Julia Campbell), UCSB N/A (Mackenzie Brokaw)
Ejections: U-M 2, UCSB 5
N O T E S
• With today's wins, Michigan improved to 5-5 against UC Davis and 4-7 against UC Santa Barbara. The Wolverines also defeated UCSB, 10-8, in the 2015 season opener.
• Michigan has faced ranked opponents in seven of nine games this season. U-M has faced the No. 4, No. 7, No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15, No. 16 and No. 18 nationally ranked teams.
• Senior Elizabeth Williams upped her season goal total to 13, already just two goals shy of her career best. She tallied 15 goals last year. Williams has scored at least one goal in seven of nine games this season, including five multi-goal games.
• The Wolverines boast six hat trick efforts already this year.
• Freshman Caroline Anderson's five-assist effort against UC Davis was the most by Wolverine player since Lauren Colton similarly recorded five assists against Wagner in 2010.
• Sophomore Emily Browning and junior Julia Campbell both own a pair of double-digit save performances this season.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi
On the overtime performance ... "I thought we stepped up defensively. We started to really click as a unit tactically. Progressively, we started giving up fewer and fewer goals. That was the difference in our last two games."
On the Wolverines' defensive strength ... "Coming into this season, I took a look at last year's stats and goals-against average and just felt that we were giving up a lot of goals. One of the principles that we changed was our defensive technical and tactical philosophies. Based on that, we're becoming stingier and stingier on defense. They say that defense wins championships, and I feel like once our defense is in a good position, our offense will really come along. Once that all clicks, things will happen for us."
On Beth Williams' goal scoring ... "We talked about her role being defined as a true center defender with the ability to score on the perimeter. She needed an opportunity to see where she'd be able to score those goals. She has an opportunity to score anywhere from two to four per game based on the position and the opportunity that she's going to get. She's capitalizing on those now that she sees and understands her role. She's becoming more comfortable and effective."
On the parity among ranked teams ... "I feel like the top four teams are in a separate class right now, and they're probably about 5-10 goals better than anybody else in the country. In the 5-7 range, I feel we can compete there, and 7-20 is just up for grabs. On any given day, if you're hot and playing well, anybody can beat each other. It's a matter of preparation and execution.
"It helps to play a team once, get the film, break it down and make adjustments for the second time. We had an opportunity today to play a team that we faced game one of our season. Even though we both got better and in both games we won by two, we were able to lower the score. Those are the type of games I want to play. I don't want to play high-scoring shootout games. I want defensive, controlled and quality possessions. Hopefully, other teams will break out systematically before we do."
On the Wolverines finding a way to win close games ... "That's trusting that we're in better shape, trusting that the system will create opportunities, and, at the end of the day, it's about heart and effort. It's wanting it more than the opponent. I'm noticing that they're not giving up. They're fighting all the way through and competing. That's the biggest thing."
U-M Senior Elizabeth Williams
On her surge in goal scoring ... "I'm getting some looks from up top. It's been challenging, because I'm still learning how to make the right read -- when to shoot or when to see other people open. You can see everything in front of you from there. I haven't played that role before. I'm still adjusting. It's been fun. Marcelo and Caitlin (Haskell) are instilling confidence in me to make those shots."
On the Wolverines' defense ... "Our defense is awesome. It helps really when our goalies are on fire as they have been recently. Defense is key right now. We need a little more work on our offense, but our defense is looking pretty good. If you can play good defense, you'll break the other team down. Then you'll start to get those openings. Defense first, then the offense will come."
Contact: Leah Howard (763) 763-4423
