Water Polo upsets #3 Cal

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

HUGE WIN for #7 Michigan.

Just knew it was coming after playing top-5 teams tough all year. Close, competitive games against #1 Stanford and #2 UCLA and now Michigan beats #3.

This is only the second win over a top-5 team in the program's 16-year history.

Michigan's defense has been sensational all season long. And it was on display this game as #7 Michigan upset #3 Cal, 7-4 in Irvine. 

Cal took a 2-0 lead and led 3-2 at half, but Michigan's Caroline Anderson scored two critical goals to put Michigan in front (on her birthday) and Michigan never looked back.

Michigan is now 13-4 with the only losses coming to #1 Stanford, #2 UCLA (twice) and #7 Hawaii.

We'll play another game with the opponent being announced shortly as this is the UCI Invitational in Irvine, CA.

After today, the team comes home to host the Wolverine Invite at Canham next weekend.

MGoBoard

Wolverine Devotee

February 28th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

Could be the first year EVER that all three Canham tenants win their conference in the same year. Water Polo didn't exist when both M Swim and W Swim last won the B1G in the same year (1997).

The team will play two games on BTN this year once CWPA season rolls around in April. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

Wolverine Devotee

February 28th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^

Yup. I hope we add Women's Hockey as well. So sad seeing the sisters of the players on our Hockey team going to places like Minnesota and anywhere else but here.

Sam Piazza's sister plays for Minnesota, J.T. Compher's sister is on the NTDP and will obviously go somewhere that will offer her a D1 scholarship. 

It wouldn't be as expensive as people think and we could give them their own arena.

Just buy the Ice Cube and fix up it up. 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

Zoltanrules

February 29th, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^

I mean if OSU can have women's hockey why can't we?

Trivia you would like: former UM and NHL player Chris Tamer and his wife Keely, who was captain of  UM's field hockey team, eldest child, Emma, will come play field hockey for UM in 2017. She is quite a hockey player too.

The women could play in the ice cube since the US under 18s have moved away. The men's water polo team already exists and plays at Canahm and would need a minimal investment. Like softball and field hockey, Michigan is a relative hot spot for these potential varsity sports. At first you probably need to recruit more outstate but a Michigan pipeline would be inevitable.

 

Joined: 08/23/2009

MGoPoints: 21116

FauxMo

February 28th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^

I have been following UM water polo for decades, and I am so excited about the 5* recruit we pulled in last year, Swimmy T. Fishballs. That kid can flat-out swim while throwing a ball!

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137564

BluCoast

February 29th, 2016 at 7:55 AM ^

Calm down folks. This was NOT vs Cal Men...a perennial elite squad and Nat Champ contender each year. This was women's against a typically mid to bottom of MPSF Cal team that, although has experienced occasional success, typically winds up at mid to bottom of the MPSF.

Good win no doubt, but at least let's clarify what we're talking about here!

Joined: 04/01/2011

MGoPoints: 392