Michigan
UCLA
Michigan Falls to Pair of Top-6 Teams at Kalbus Invitational
2/22/2020 11:52:00 PM | Water Polo
» The Wolverines dropped a pair of games Saturday (Feb. 22) on the second day of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. U-M fell to No. 2 UCLA, 7-2, and later lost to No. 6 UC Irvine, 9-8. » U-M had a shot to tie the game in the waning seconds against UC Irvine.
» Heidi Ritner had 19 saves over the two games.
» Michigan will play in the seventh-place game against UCSB on Sunday (Feb. 23).
Site: Irvine, Calif. (UC Irvine Aquatics Center)
Event: Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Scores: #2 UCLA 7, #10 Michigan 2; #6 UC Irvine 9, #10 Michigan 8
Records: U-M (6-8), UCLA (16-1), UCI (11-5)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 23 -- vs. No. 9 UC Santa Barbara (7th-place game) - Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Day 3 (Irvine, Calif.), 9 a.m. PST
• PDF Boxscores: UCLA | UC Irvine
IRVINE, Calif. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan water polo team showed a lot of fight in two losses to top-six opponents on Saturday (Feb. 22) on day two of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at the UC Irvine Aquatics Center.
U-M fell to No. 2 UCLA, 7-2, to start off the winner's bracket then lost to No. 6 UC, 9-8, Irvine to set up a seventh-place game matchup with No. 9 UCSB on Sunday (Feb. 23).
Game 1: No. 2 UCLA 7, No. 10 Michigan 2
Michigan knew it would have a tough game against No. 2 UCLA after they lost ti the Bruins, 12-4, at Canham Natatorium.
The Wolverines had a difficult time scoring again this time around as the UCLA defense held them to just two goals in the contest.
Junior Maddie O'Reilly scored on a penalty shot six minutes into the first quarter to tie the game at 1. It was her fourth goal of the weekend.
U-M then went scoreless for the next seven minutes as UCLA went on a 4-0 run. Junior Sofie Pontré ended the run with a goal at just under three minutes left in the first half to cut the Wolverines' deficit to 4-2.
UCLA did not give up another goal the rest of the way as Michigan was held off the scoreboard for the final 18:56 of the game. The Wolverines also played great defense, keeping the Bruins scoreless for the final 8:26.
Senior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner finished with eight saves, and her defense had four field blocks in the contest with two for Pontré.
Game 2: No. 6 UC Irvine 9, No. 10 Michigan 8
The second game of the day featured a third straight top-10 matchup for Michigan as they took on No. 6 UC Irvine for the second time this season. U-M has faced top-10 teams in nine of its 14 games this season.
The Wolverines got off to a slow start, falling behind, 3-0, after the first quarter. Michigan's offense got things going in the second, scoring four goals to get within one goal at 5-4 at halftime.
In the third quarter, U-M continued to battle, taking a 7-6 lead with 1:34 to go in the period. A three-goal run in the fourth put the Anteaters up by two, 9-7, with 3:24 remaining. Sophomore Erin Neustrom scored with 49 seconds to go to cut the lead to one. After a save by Ritner, U-M called timeout with 13 seconds left to set up a play. Junior Sofie Pontré got a shot off but it missed the cage and UCI hung on for the win.
Neustrom and Maddie O'Reilly each scored two goals in the game. O'Reilly also had three assists. Ritner finished with 11 saves and two steals in the loss.
The seventh-place game will take place Sunday at 9 a.m. PST at the UC Irvine Aquatics Center. The Wolverines will take on No. 9 UC Santa Barbara.
