Michigan
California
Cal Has Answer for Michigan in NCAA Quarterfinals
5/11/2018 10:43:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan ends its season with a 32-9 overall record.
» The Wolverines allowed a season-high 13 goals in the quarterfinal loss.
» Sophomore Maddy Steere led Michigan with three goals and three drawn exclusions.
Site: Los Angeles, Calif. (Uytengsu Aquatics Center)
Event: NCAA Quarterfinals
Score: #3 California 13, #9 Michigan 6
Records: Michigan (32-9), California (20-5)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete
• PDF Boxscore
LOS ANGELES -- Every time the University of Michigan water polo team tried to come back against No. 3 California, the Golden Bears had the answer as the Wolverines' 2018 season came to a close with a 13-6 loss in their NCAA quarterfinal game on Friday (May 11).
Cal responded to four of U-M's six goals with a goal on their next possession. The Golden Bears scored 13 goals, the most Michigan allowed in a game this season. The previous high was 11, also by Cal, on Feb. 3.
Michigan kept it close early on. The Wolverines took advantage of its first 6-on-5 opportunity, scoring seconds into the power play with a shot from about five meters out by sophomore Maddy Steere to tie the score at 1.
After Cal scored two straight goals to end the first quarter with a 3-1 lead, U-M cut the lead to 3-2 at the 7:16 mark in the second on a goal by freshman Sofie Pontré. Cal responded 26 seconds later. Steere converted a five-meter penalty shot at the 5:09 mark to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Golden Bears scored 17 seconds later.
That response sparked a three-goal run by Cal, one coming with four seconds remaining in the first half, to give the Golden Bears a 7-3 advantage.
Michigan had a good start to the second half as senior Caroline Anderson scored at the 6:40 mark. However, the Wolverines could not get a defensive stop to keep the momentum. Cal responded 26 seconds later to start a five-goal run.
The Wolverines scored twice in the final 1:03. Steere completed the hat trick with her second penalty shot and junior Julia Sellers scored her team-high 81st goal with 25 seconds left.
Sophomore goalkeeper Heidi Ritner had seven saves in the loss.
Tweet of the Game
Opening remarks from Dr. Marcelo Leonardi and sophomore Maddy Steere. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/dtPFlwIk90
— Michigan Water Polo (@UMichWaterPolo) May 12, 2018
Cal advanced to the NCAA Semfinals where they will face No. 2 Stanford. Michigan's season comes to a close with a 32-9 record after it made the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.
