Michigan
Cal Baptist
Wolverines Reach 20 Wins with Dominant Performances at LMU Invite
3/16/2018 10:05:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan extended its win streak to 13 games.
» Junior Julia Sellers recorded five goals against Cal Baptist.
» The Wolverines scored season-high 18 goals vs. Fresno Pacific.
Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Burns Aquatic Center)
Event: LMU Invitational
Scores: #9 Michigan 17, #24 Cal Baptist 6; #9 Michigan 18, Fresno Pacific 3
Records: U-M (20-7), Cal Baptist (12-10), Fresno Pacific (8-11)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 17 -- at LMU Invite (Los Angeles, Calif.) - vs. No. 11 LMU at 9:15 a.m. PDT; No. 21 San Jose State at 2:15 p.m. PDT
• PDF Boxscores: Cal Baptist | Fresno Pacific
LOS ANGELES -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan water polo team continued its high-octane offensive performances with a combined 35 goals in two wins at the LMU Invitational on Friday (March 16) to extend its win streak to 13 games.
U-M had two of its highest-scoring games of the season in a pair of victories, matching a season high with 17 goals against No. 24 Cal Baptist and then topped that effort by one goal in a 15-goal win over Fresno Pacific.
Game 1: No. 9 Michigan 17, No. 24 Cal Baptist 6
Michigan used a big second half to blow by No. 24 Cal Baptist for the Wolverines' 12th consecutive win. The Wolverines scored 11 goals after halftime to match their season high of 17 goals. It was the fifth time in the last nine games they have scored 15 goals or more.
Junior Julia Sellers had a big game for U-M with five goals to lead the way. Sellers matched her previous career high of five goals she set last weekend as she has 14 goals over her last four games.
The Wolverines came out strong in each quarter and scored the first three goals in each of the first three quarters and the first goal six seconds into the fourth.
Sophomore Maddy Steere almost matched Sellers as she scored four times in the game. Senior Caroline Anderson had another big game in the assists category with four. Junior Kim Johnson and freshman Maddie O'Reilly each scored two goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Heidi Ritner went the distance with six saves and six goals allowed.
Game 2: No. 9 Michigan 18, Fresno Pacific 3
The Wolverines put together another dominant performance in the second game of the day as they scored the game's first 14 goals on the way to an 18-3 rout of Fresno Pacific.
Michigan received scoring contributions from 11 different players as they racked up a season-high 18 goals to reach 20 wins on the year.
Freshman Maddy Johnston was terrific early and netted a hat trick 3:21 into the game. She would finish with a team-high four goals to match her top scoring output of the year.
Two of Johnston's classmates, freshmen Emily Ritner and O'Reilly, each had two goals. Emily Ritner also dished out three assists while O'Reilly had two. Senior Christina O'Beck and Sellers also scored twice as U-M piled on the goals. The Wolverines scored 11 in the first half and held Fresno Pacific scoreless until the 1:06 mark of the third quarter.
Heidi Ritner did not allow a goal in her 16 minutes in the cage. She made five saves and had two steals in the win. Freshman Sara Campbell replaced her at the half and made one save to go along with two assists and two steals.
Michigan will play its final two games of the LMU Invitational tomorrow (March 17), and will take on No. 11 LMU at 9:15 p.m. PDT and No. 21 San Jose State at 2:15 p.m. PDT to conclude the nonconference portion of its schedule.
