Michigan
USC
Michigan Places Third at Triton Invitational
2/10/2019 9:32:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan defeated two top-10 opponents at the Triton Invitational.
» Abby Andrews scored a hat trick in third-place game.
» Heidi Ritner recorded season-high 12 saves against USC.
Site: La Jolla, Calif. (Canyonview Pool)
Event: Triton Invitational (Day 3 of 3)
Scores: #1 Southern California 10, #8 Michigan 3; #8 Michigan 10, #6 UC Irvine 8
Records: U-M (6-5), USC (11-0), UC Irvine (5-3)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sun., Feb. 22-24 -- at Anteater Invite (Irvine, Calif.)
• Boxscores: USC | UC Irvine (to come)
LA JOLLA, Calif. --Â The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team finished in third-place at the Triton Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 10), falling, 10-3, against No. 1 Southern California and defeating No. 6 UC Irvine, 9-8, in the third-place game.
The Wolverines took down two top-10 opponents on the weekend -- No. 9 Arizona State on Saturday (Feb. 9) and UC Irvine on Sunday. U-M has played seven of its 11 games this season against top-10 opponents and are 3-4 against them.
Michigan went 3-1 on the weekend to improve to 6-5 on the season.
Game 1: No. 1 USC 10, No. 8 Michigan 3
Junior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner had a season-high 12 saves, but the top-ranked Trojans were too much for the Wolverines.
Michigan kept it close early, entering the second quarter tied at 2. Senior Kim Johnson collected a rebound and put it in for the game's first goal and sophomore Maddy Johnston also scored in the opening period.
USC played solid defense the rest of the way, holding the Wolverines to one goal over the final 24 minutes. The Trojans led by only two goals at halftime but poured in five goals during the third period.
Johnson would finish with two of Michigan's three goals in the contest, while also making two steals.
Game 2: No. 8 Michigan 9, No. 6 UC Irvine 8
Michigan was fired up for the third-place game and came out of the gate firing. The Wolverines scored four goals in the first quarter to lead, 4-2, early. Johnson, Johnston, freshman Abby Andrews and senior Julia Sellers all got on the board early.
The offense continued into the second quarter with three more goals being added to the scoreboard to help the Wolverines build a 7-4 halftime lead.
Michigan added one more to its lead in the third period as Andrews scored a 6-on-5 goal for her third of the contest. That gave U-M a four-goal lead heading to the final period.
UC Irvine gave the Wolverines a battle in the fourth, scoring three goals -- including two five-meter penalties -- but Michigan was able to hang on for the victory.
Andrews was a difference-maker for the Wolverines in the win. The freshman left-hander had three assists to go along with her three scores and also had a field block. Johnston also had a big game with two goals and two assists.
The Wolverines will have next weekend off before returning to action Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22-24, at the Anteater Invite in Irvine, California. The seeding for the tournament will be based on team rankings the week leading into the tournament.
