Goals were coming fast and furious on opening weekend of the collegiate women’s water polo season.
Two six-goal efforts, six five-score outings, 21 four-goal performances and 39 hat tricks highlighted the individual efforts.
Below are the standout players from each conference.
Big West
Player of the Week: Ciara Franke, UC San Diego – Scored eight goals as the Tritons went 3-1 at the UCSB Winter Invite; put in a career-high five goals, including the game winner in a 14-13 overtime win over #4 Cal; logged a hat trick in an 8-6 loss to #2 UCLA; registered assist and a steal in 19-8 win over Iona.
CWPA
Player of the Week: Ava Morrant, Michigan – Posted seven goals, three steals and an assist as the Wolverines went 2-2 at the UCSB Winter Invite; logged hat tricks in an 8-7 win over #22 Cal State Northridge and a 14-9 loss to #5 UC Irvine; notched a goal and two steals in a 8-7 loss to #4 Cal; added an assist in a 9-7 win over #11 UC Santa Barbara.
Defensive Player of the Week: Heidi Ritner, Michigan – Grabbed 30 saves and made seven steals at the UC Santa Barbara Invite; tallied a career-high five steals alongside 10 saves in a 9-7 win over #11 UC Santa Barbara; tallied five saves in one half of play in an 8-7 win over #22 Cal State Northridge; made eight stops in a 14-9 loss to #5 UC Irvine; chipped in seven saves in an 8-7 loss to #4 Cal.
Rookie of the Week: Anne Rankin, Michigan – Logged four goals and three assists for the Wolverines on opening weekend; scored the opening goal of the 2020 season in an 8-7 win over #22 Cal State Northridge; netted two goals in a 14-9 loss to #5 UC Irvine; tacked on an assist in an 8-7 loss to #4 Cal.
GCC
Player of the Week: Milena Guzman Ortiz, Azusa Pacific – Chipped in eight goals, four steals and an assist at the UCSB Winter Invitational; put in three goals and two steals in a 7-6 win over #22 Cal State Northridge; amassed five goals, two steals and an assist in a 24-8 win over Ottawa.
MAAC
Offensive Player of the Week: Jordan Van Reeken, Iona – Recorded 14 goals, including five goals and two assists in a 16-4 win over Ottawa (Ariz.); accumulated nine more goals as the Gaels faced three Top 12 teams, notching four goals in a 19-8 loss to #12 UC San Diego and in a 16-4 loss to #2 UCLA.
Defensive Player of the Week: Jordin Hale, Iona – Made 31 saves on 72 shots in four games at the UCSB Winter Invite; added three steals in a 16-4 loss to #2 UCLA.
MPSF
Player of the Week: Abbi Hill, UCLA – Led the Bruins in scoring with nine goals and added five steals, four assists, four drawn exclusions and two field blocks; scored a game-high three goals in the team’s 9-8 loss to #11 UCSB; put in the game winner in a 8-6 win over #13 UC San Diego.
Newcomer of the Week: Sophie Leggett, Cal – Racked up nine goals at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite; scored four times in an 8-5 win over #11 UC Santa Barbara; notched three goals and three field blocks in a 14-13 triple overtime loss to #13 UC San Diego.
SCIAC
None. Three SCIAC teams open the season on Jan. 25.
WWPA
None. Sonoma State and Fresno Pacific were in action on opening weekend.
