Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, March 2
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6 A.M. PT/9 A.M. ET
Fresno State
vs
St. Francis (Pa.)
No. 13 Bulldogs head to Midwest for Wolverine Invitational
2/28/2019 5:58:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team will travel to compete in the Wolverine Invitational hosted by No. 7 Michigan, March 2-3. The Bulldogs are slated to face Saint Francis at 6 a.m. PT and No. 15 Long Beach State at 1:45 p.m. PT on Saturday. They will finish the weekend with a games against No. 7 Michigan at 5:45 a.m. PT and No. 21 Marist College at 10 a.m. PT on Sunday. Â
How to follow – Fans can follow along with live stats for all four games via The Fosh. Fresno State's game against Michigan will be streamed on MGoBlue.com.
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 4-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Tournament Notes:
NATIONALLY SPEAKINGÂ
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 13 in the national rankings. This is the Bulldogs' highest ranking this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for four consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
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THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with three GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 31. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal.
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WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Emily Nicholson (22), Trystyn Vuori (21), Callie Woodruff (19), Sydney Coachman (16) and Daphne Guevremont (12).
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2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
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OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholsonand Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
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LAST SEASONÂ
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
SCOUTING THE REDFLASH
Saint Francis is 5-7 this season.
Team Notes:
LBSU is 4-8 this season.
Team Notes:
Michigan is 8-7 this season.
Team Notes:
Marist College is 7-6 this season.
Team Notes:
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
How to follow – Fans can follow along with live stats for all four games via The Fosh. Fresno State's game against Michigan will be streamed on MGoBlue.com.
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 4-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Tournament Notes:
- Fresno State is nationally ranked No. 13.
- Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for four consecutive weeks.
- Fresno State's first 10 games this season were against opponents ranked within the Top 15. Â
- Fresno State is coming off a 17-5 win over Cal Luthern in the 2019 Tina Finali Invitational.
- Fresno State has won its last two games.
- Fresno State is averaging 9.92 goals per game.
- Sophomore Emily Nicholson leads the Bulldogs this season with 22 goals, averaging 1.83 goals per game.
- Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent a majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs. Richards has recorded 10 or more saves in three games this season.
- Saturday's game against Saint Francis will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
- The last time Fresno State and LBSU met, the Bulldogs upset then-No. 11 49ers in the Cal Cup 11-9 on Jan. 26.
- The last time Fresno State and Michigan met, then-No. 11 Michigan defeated Fresno State 11-6 in the UCSB Invitational on Jan. 20.
- Sunday's game against Marist College will mark the first meeting between the two programs. The programs do have some history, Fresno State head coach Natalie Benson was the head coach for the Red Foxes from 2014-16.
NATIONALLY SPEAKINGÂ
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 13 in the national rankings. This is the Bulldogs' highest ranking this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for four consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
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THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with three GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 31. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal.
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WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Emily Nicholson (22), Trystyn Vuori (21), Callie Woodruff (19), Sydney Coachman (16) and Daphne Guevremont (12).
Â
2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
Â
OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholsonand Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
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LAST SEASONÂ
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
SCOUTING THE REDFLASH
Saint Francis is 5-7 this season.
Team Notes:
- Saint Francis is coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Laker Invite. The Red Flash posted a win over Salem. Saint Francis fell to La Salle, Virginia Military Institute and McKendree University.
- Saint Francis' has been outscored 148-99 by its opponents.
- The Red Flash is averaging 8.25 goals per game.
- Ani Aghakhanian was named the CWPA Player of the Week on Feb. 12.
- Aghakhanian finished the 2018 season with 25 goals, 15 steals and 12 assists.
LBSU is 4-8 this season.
Team Notes:
- LBSU is nationally ranked No. 15.
- LBSU is coming off a 2-2 weekend at the UCI Invitational. The 49ers defeated No. 23 CSUN and No. 19 SJSU. LBSU fell to No. 4 UCLA and No. 12 Loyola Marymount.
- Four of LBSU's losses this season have been decided by two goals or less.
- LBSU has been outscored by its opponents 145-111.
- LBSU is averaging 9.25 goals per game.
- LBSU's offense is led by Orsi Hertzka with 33 goals this season.
- Eirini Patras has been in the goal for the 49ers this season. She has grabbed 67 saves and recorded a .394 save percentage.
Michigan is 8-7 this season.
Team Notes:
- Michigan is nationally ranked No. 7.
- Michigan is coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. The Wolverines recorded wins over No. 12 Loyola Marymount and No. 10 Pacific, while falling to No. 3 UCLA and No. 8 Arizona State.
- Michigan has seven wins over ranked opponents, including three Top 10 wins.
- Michigan has been outscored by its opponents 140-128 this season.
- Michigan is averaging 8.53 goals per game this season.
- Freshman Abby Andrews leads the Wolverines this season with 19 goals, 20 assists and 19 steals.
- Andrews has been named the CWPA Rookie of the Week three times this season.
- Heidi Ritner has been in the goal for the Wolverines this season. She has grabbed 92 saves to record a .428 save percentage, and swiped 17 steals.
- Ritner claimed CWPA Defensive Player of the Week accolades on Feb. 27.
Marist College is 7-6 this season.
Team Notes:
- Marist College is nationally ranked No. 21.
- Marist College is coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Red Fox Invitational. The Red Foxes posted wins over George Washington and Mercyhurst University, but fell the No. 14 Princeton.
- Marist College is 2-6 against ranked opponents this season.
- Marist College has outscored its opponents this season 128-125.
- Marist College is averaging 9.85 goals per game.
- Marist College's offense is led by Susan Catoni with 13 goals and six assists.
- Carsen Horvatich has spent a majority of the minutes in the goal for the Red Foxes. She has grabbed 167 steals to record a .371 save percentage. Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Players Mentioned
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