Water Polo Rues Missed Opportunities in Loss to No. 1 USC

Saturday, February 27

Tempe, Ariz.

2:00 PM MT

Michigan

5-1

USC

4-0

Michigan

Southern California

Libby Alsemgeest (Michigan Photography)

Water Polo Rues Missed Opportunities in Loss to No. 1 USC

2/27/2021 5:42:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score

By: Brad Rudner

» Michigan was outshot, 31-21, in a 10-6 loss to No. 1 USC.
» Heidi Ritner made nine saves in goal.
» Ava Morrant led the way with two goals.

Site: Tempe, Ariz. (Mona Plummer Aquatic Center)
Event: Arizona State Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Score: #1 USC 10, #6 Michigan 6
Records: U-M (5-1), USC (4-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 28 -- vs. #1 USC (Tempe, Ariz.), 9 a.m. MST

• Boxscore (PDF)

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team rued its missed opportunities on the offensive end and suffered its first loss of the weekend and season to No. 1 USC, 10-6, in the Arizona State Invitatonal on Saturday (Feb. 27) at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

The Wolverines provided the first scoring threat of the game on a five-meter penalty but could not take advantage. The Trojans built a 3-0 lead from there, while Michigan had trouble converting its chances. Shots from freshman Lola Ciruli and sophomore Sophie Tovani were each saved by netminder Holly Parker, while another shot from senior Kathy Rogers hit the post.

The second quarter was more back-and-forth. After a shot from senior Maddie O'Reilly also deflected off the post, junior Ava Morrant got the Wolverines on the board, drawing the score to 3-1 with 5:08 left before halftime. After USC scored to restore its three-goal lead, Morrant scored again, followed by a goal from freshman Kata Utassy to make it 4-3. O'Reilly made good on her second five-meter penalty shot, and Michigan stopped USC on a 6-on-5 to end the half, trimming the deficit to 6-4.

When the Wolverines could not get much going on offense in the third quarter, graduate student Heidi Ritner did her best to keep them in the game, making four saves. But the Trojans scored two more goals and led, 8-4, heading into the fourth quarter.

With 4:30 left, freshman Libby Alsemgeest got on the scoreboard courtesy of a power-play goal, cutting the USC lead to 9-5. The Trojans tacked on another, but Rogers answered, making it 10-6 with 2:20 left. The Wolverines had two final opportunities to close the gap further and try to make it interesting, but shots from sophomore Anne Rankin and Alsemgeest were turned away by Parker.

Michigan will close out the weekend at the Arizona State Invitational tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 28) with a doubleheader, squaring off again with No. 1 USC at 9 a.m. MST and No. 4 Arizona State at 2 p.m. MST.