Michigan
Stanford
U-M Drops Two to Lead Off Stanford Invitational
2/2/2019 11:05:00 PM | Water Polo
» Maddy Johnston and Julia Sellers scored five goals each.
» U-M had a chance to tie No. 13 UC Davis in final 10 seconds but fell short.
» Michigan allowed a program-record 21 goals against No. 2 Stanford.
Site: Stanford, Calif. (Belardi Pool)
Event: Stanford Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Records: #8 Michigan (2-4), #2 Stanford (4-0), #13 UC Davis (3-3)
Scores: Game 1: Stanford 21, Michigan 9; Game 2: UC Davis 12, Michigan 11
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 3 – at Stanford Invitational (Palo Alto, Calif.) - vs. China (exhbition), 8:30 a.m. PST ; vs. No. 8 Pacific, 1:45 p.m. PST
Boxscores: Stanford | UC Davis
STANFORD, Calif. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team suffered two losses on the first day of the Stanford Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 2).
The Wolverines have faced one of the toughest schedules in the nation in the early part of the 2019 season, and things did not get any easier Saturday with contests against No. 2 Stanford and No. 13 UC Davis.
Game 1: No. 2 Stanford 21, No. 8 Michigan 9
The first game of the weekend came against No. 2 Stanford in its home pool. U-M has faced the top three teams in the country over its first five games.
The Cardinal offense, which had scored more than 20 goals in two of its first three games and 19 in its other contest, continued to fire on all cylinders against the Wolverines, scoring 21 goals.
The Cardinal poured in seven goals in the first period and were 9-of-12 on power-play opportunities in the game. The 21 goals were the most allowed by Michigan in program history, three more than the 18 goals given up to USC in 2002 -- the second year of the program. Stanford later defeated Indiana, 25-4.
The Wolverines had seven different players score goals as they tallied the most goals (nine) Stanford has allowed over its first five games this season. Senior Julia Sellers and junior Skyler Pyle each scored twice to lead the team. Pyle also had an assist, while freshman Erin Neustrom tallied one goal, two assists and six drawn exclusions. Freshman Ava Morrant scored her first collegiate goal with six seconds remaining in the contest.
Freshman Isabelle Rocco also made her collegiate debut in the game, earning an exclusion.
Game 2: No. 13 UC Davis 12, No. 8 Michigan 11
UC Davis used a strong fourth quarter to come away with the victory. Trailing, 11-10, entering the final eight minutes, the Aggies scored two goals in the middle of the fourth to take the lead while their defense stepped up and held the Wolverines scoreless over the final 10:52 . Michigan had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds, drawing an exclusion with 10 seconds remaining, but U-M could not put in the tying goal.
The game featured a wild second quarter with both teams scoring five goals to make it 9-7, U-M, at the half. Michigan twice led by three goals, at 5-2 in the second and 10-7 in the third quarter, but UC Davis went on a pair of 3-0 runs to keep within striking distance.
Sophomore Maddy Johnston had a big first half for Michigan with four goals, but she was held scoreless in the second half. Sellers added a hat-trick and senior Kim Johnson notched two goals.
The Wolverines will have two more games Sunday (Feb. 3) to close out the Stanford Invitational. U-M will take on the Chinese national team in an exhibition contest at 8:30 a.m. PST, then will face Pacific -- the team Michigan is tied with at No. 8 in the rankings -- at 1:45 p.m. PST.
