Morgan Turner

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team completed a six-win weekend with victories over No. 11-ranked San Diego State University, 12-11, and No. 20-ranked California State University-Bakersfield, 15-4, on Sunday (Jan. 30) on day two of the University of California-Santa Barbara Winter Invitational at the Recreation Center Pool and Campus Pool.

Sophomore Alex Adamson (Coronado, Calif./Coronado) made seven saves in the cage against the Aztecs and junior Morgan Turner (Mission Viejo, Calif./Trabuco Hills) carried a shutout into halftime against the Roadrunners, cruising to the victory with six saves.

Senior Alison Mantel (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) tallied three goals and three assists against SDSU for the day's top offensive performance. Senior Keller Felt (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla) helped the cause with a playmaker (three assists) against SDSU and freshman Sophie Høegh (Coral Gables, Fla./Ransom Everglades) scored a hat trick against CSUB. Meanwhile, senior Lauren Orth (Poway, Calif./Poway) had five goals on the day.

In the Wolverines' match against San Diego State, the lead changing hands nine times. After junior Meagan Cobb (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) scored on the game's opening possession, SDSU took a quick lead that held until midway through the second period, when the Wolverines rattled off four straight goals, which came from sophomore Kiki Golden (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) and Orth, to carry a 7-5 lead into halftime. SDSU climbed back into the game in an offensive third period, setting up a 10-10 score heading into the final frame.

Michigan got the decisive edge following two early fourth-period goals from SDSU. With 2:40 remaining, Mantel found senior Ryley Plunkett (Modesto, Calif./Johansen) at the post, where she threaded a shot into the back of the cage. As the Aztecs applied pressure in the final minutes, senior Cara Reitz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver) kept them at bay with a steal to break up a counter attack and another in the final moments to secure the victory.

In the weekend's sixth and final game, the Wolverines carried a 7-0 lead into halftime, with the offense being led by freshmen Hathaway Moore (Atherton, Calif./Saint Francis) and Audrey Pratt (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame). The lead swelled to nine on a counter-attack goal from junior Claire Ivry (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte), before CSUB finally solved Turner in the third period. Michigan continued to roll with Høegh scoring three times in the final frame, joining Ivry with hat tricks in the finale.

Michigan will take next weekend off before traveling to the San Diego State Triton Invitational, held Feb. 12-13 in San Diego, Calif.

Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletic Communications