Michigan
Pacific
Michigan to Head West for Two-Game Series at Pacific
4/1/2021 5:03:00 PM | Water Polo
THIS WEEK
Monday, April 5 -- at #13 Pacific (Stockton, Calif.), 7 p.m. PDT
Tuesday, April 6 -- at #13 Pacific (Stockton, Calif.), 4 p.m. PDT
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The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team (15-4) heads back to the West Coast, visiting No. 13 Pacific (6-2) for a two-game set in Stockton, Calif. The two teams will play at the Pacific Aquatics Center on Monday (April 5) at 7 p.m. PDT and again on Tuesday (April 6) at 4 p.m. PDT.
The Wolverines were initially scheduled to play a two-game series at UC Irvine on Friday and Saturday (April 2-3), but it was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within UC Irvine's program.
Team Notes
• The Wolverines enter the week riding an eight-game unbeaten streak. In that stretch, U-M has scored 15 goals or more five times, and held the opposition to three goals or fewer four times.
• Michigan remained at No. 7 in the latest CWPA Varsity Top 25 poll, released on March 31.
• A trio of Wolverines received CWPA weekly honors following a two-game sweep of Salem last weekend. Maddie O'Reilly was named Player of the Week, Sofie Pontré was Defensive Player of the Week and Libby Alsemgeest was Rookie of the Week. [ Awards and Honors ]
• U-M is outscoring its opposition by nearly a 2-to-1 clip (11.9 goals scored per game, 6.4 goals allowed per game). It also is capitalizing on its opportunities, posting a .410 shooting percentage, while limiting opponents to a 29 percent.
• Senior Maddie O'Reilly is in the midst of another sensational season. Since the start of the 2020 season, O'Reilly has tallied 72 goals and 60 assists in 38 matches. She is having an All-American type season, tied for third nationally in points (62) and ranking sixth in both goals (36) and assists (26).
• The Wolverines have gone with a trio of goalkeepers this season. Together, Heidi Ritner, Sophie Jackson and Alex Brown have combined for a 6.30 goals-against average, 173 saves and a .586 save percentage.
• U-M is receiving offensive contributions from up and down its roster. So far, nine players have scored at least 10 goals and seven players have tallied at least 10 assists. Four individuals -- Maddie O'Reilly, Kata Utassy, Ava Morrant and Emily Ritner -- have reached double-digits in both categories.
Opponent Preview
Pacific: The Tigers are 6-2 on the season, and will play Azusa Pacific on Friday (April 2). Heading into that game, Pacific has won five games in a row by a combined score of 76-44. Truly Dorland leads the team in goals (28), while Toula Falvey has 20 goals and Lucy Davis has 20 assists. Ema Nathan (8.70 GAA, .451 SV% in 144 minutes) and Isabelle Knittle (10.40 GAA, .458 SV%, 80 minutes) have split time in the cage.
U-M is 7-5 all-time against Pacific. The two teams met last year (a 7-6 Michigan win on Jan. 26) and four times in 2019 (U-M went 3-1).
Up Next
Sunday, April 11 -- at Bucknell, vs. Saint Francis (Lewisburg, Pa.), 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m.
