The Wolverine

June-July 2017

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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66 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2017 BY LELAND MITCHINSON A fter going from 2010 to 2015 without a Collegiate Water Polo Association champion‑ ship, the No. 7 Michigan wa‑ ter polo team has captured its second title in as many years. With an undefeated conference regular season, the Wolverines se‑ cured a No. 1 seed and cruised to the championship game. In the opening round of the CWPA Tournament, Michigan dominated Saint Francis, winning the game 22‑2. Junior Christina O'Beck, senior Al‑ lison Skaggs and junior Caroline An‑ derson each scored three goals in the blowout victory. On the defensive end, the Wol‑ verines were forced to make just six saves all game. Michigan's semifinal game did not threaten the team's tournament run any more than the first, though the Wolverines were facing No. 20 Har‑ vard. The Crimson were able to pres‑ sure the Michigan goal throughout the game, but freshman goalkeeper Heidi Ritner was more than up to the challenge, finishing the game with a career‑high 18 saves in the Wolver‑ ines' 11‑5 win. "I feel Heidi is the best goalie in her age group," Michigan coach Dr. Mar‑ celo Leonardi said. "She's a youth national team goalie. The level of her play is extremely high. I thought she was going to take some lumps early on in terms of the learning curve, but she hit the ground running. I thought she has had a great season." As easy as it was for U‑M to reach the final game of the CWPA Tourna‑ ment, it would be just as hard for the team to come away with the win. The Wolverines faced No. 9 Princeton in a back‑and‑forth championship game, holding on tight to escape with a 5‑4 win. Michigan's game‑winner came in the third quarter, when sophomore Kim Johnson found her older sister, senior Danielle, to give the Wolver‑ ines a 4‑3 lead. Anderson then scored an insurance goal with 4:43 remain‑ ing in the game, one Michigan would need, with the Tiger's final goal com‑ ing with eight seconds on the clock. BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS The Water Polo Team Wins The CWPA Title Again The Michigan water polo team won its second straight and seventh overall Collegiate Water Polo Association championship. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS   OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE

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