Michigan
California
Wolverines to Play Three Weekend Games at Stanford Invite
1/29/2020 3:10:00 PM | Water Polo
THIS WEEK
Sat-Sun., Feb 1-2 -- at Stanford Invitational (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Tournament Central
Saturday, Feb. 1 -- vs. No. 6 California, 10 a.m. PST
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 1 -- vs. No. 2 Stanford, 4:45 p.m. PST
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 2 -- vs. No. 11 UC Davis, 9:30 a.m. PST
Live Stats
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team will continue its tough early season schedule when it faces three ranked opponents at the Stanford Invitational on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 1-2) at Avery Stadium in Palo Alto, California.
On Saturday (Feb. 1), the Wolverines will face No. 6 California at 10 a.m. PST, followed by a showdown with host No. 2 Stanford at 4:45 p.m. PST. Michigan will end the weekend with a Sunday (Feb. 2) matchup against No. 11 UC Davis at 9:30 a.m. PST.
Stanford Invitational
• Michigan will travel to Palo Alto, California for three games at the Stanford Invitational this weekend (Sat-Sun., Feb 1-2).
• The Wolverines have competed in the tournament each of the last four years, compiling a 9-6 overall record.
• U-M will face No. 6 Cal and No. 2 Stanford on Saturday and then will come back to finish the weekend against No. 11 UC Davis on Sunday.
• Michigan is 1-12 all-time against Cal, including a last-second 9-8 loss opening weekend in Santa Barbara, California. Stanford owns a 13-0 all-time record against the Wolverines, including a 21-9 win last year at the tournament. U-M has a slight edge in the series against UC Davis at 8-7, but the Aggies won last year's meeting, 12-11, at the Stanford Invitational.
The Opponents
• Cal enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall record. The Golden Bears have played a lot of tight games with key wins over No. 3 UC Irvine (12-11) and No. 7 Michigan (9-8, on a last-second goal), but also have lost to No. 13 UC San Diego in sudden-death overtime (14-13) and to No. 18 San Jose State (9-8).
• Stanford has rolled along to a 5-0 record. The only game decided by fewer than five goals was a 10-9 win over No. 3 UC Irvine last weekend. The Cardinal has won two of the last three national championships.
• UC Davis is 3-3 on the season, opening with two wins at home and then going 1-3 at the Cal Invite last weekend.
Last Time Out
• The Maize and Blue went 3-1 at home in the Michigan Invitational with three ranked wins over No. 21 Wagner, No. 11 Pacific and No. 9 UCSB, and a loss to No. 5 UCLA.
• Junior Maddie O'Reilly was named CWPA Player of the Week after leading the Wolverines for a second consecutive weekend with 11 points. She scored seven goals, including a career-high four against Wagner.
• Michigan's defense was lights out in its three wins, holding all three opponents to eight goals or fewer and the two teams on Sunday to six or less.
• Senior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner picked up her second consecutive CWPA Defensive Player of the Week honor after posting 34 saves and allowing just 21 goals for a .618 save percentage in 107:56.
• Junior Sofie Pontré also made a big impact for the Wolverines with four goals, three assists, six drawn exclusions and 11 steals. She matched a career best with four steals against both UCLA and Pacific.
• Three players made their collegiate debuts. Freshman goalkeeper Alex Brown recorded her first career save in 4:04 of action against Wagner. Also appearing for the first time against Wagner were Abby May and Grace Harbaugh.
Team 20
• U-M is 5-3 on the season with a 2-2 record at the UCSB Winter Invite and a 3-1 record in the Michigan Invitational.
• Michigan is averaging 7.75 goals per game and allowing 8.25 goals per game.
• The Wolverines are led on offense by O'Reilly with 13 goals and nine assists. Sophomores Ava Morrant and Erin Neustrom have also scored in double figures with 10 goals. Neustrom has made a big difference inside with a team-high 23 drawn exlcusions and .476 shooting percentage. Junior Emily Ritner has contributed eight assists.
• The defense is run by goalkeeper Heidi Ritner, who has started all eight games in the cage. She has a 4-3 record with 64 saves and 11 steals. Pontré leads the team with 12 steals.
The Doctor
• Head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi is 137-51 (.729) as the head coach at Michigan, including a 36-2 (.947) record in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). He earned his 100th win at Michigan against No. 13 Indiana last season.
• Leonardi has guided the Wolverines to four straight CWPA titles and NCAA appearances, placing as high as fourth in the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
In the Rankings
• For the econd consecutive week, U-M is ranked No. 7 in the latest CWPA Top 25 Poll released on Wednesday (Jan. 29). The Wolverines are on a streak of 25 straight polls -- and 75 of the last 76 -- being ranked in the top-10.
• Under Leonardi, Michigan has spent 75 weeks in the top 10 and eight weeks in the top five over the last six seasons.
• Michigan was ranked No. 7 in the CWPA preseason top 25.
Records and Milestones
• Heidi Ritner (84)is one win shy of tying the school record held by Betsey Armstrong (85).
• Ritner is 14 saves shy of 800 for her career.
• Neustrom is approaching 100 career drawn exclusions, 17 short of the milestone. She is 22 shy of reaching the top 10 in the Michigan record book.
Up Next
Fri-Sun., Feb. 21-23 -- at Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Irvine, Calif.)
