ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team fell to No. 4 the University of California, 13-8, inside Canham Natatorium.
Maddie O’Reilly led the Wolverines as she was involved in five out of the eight goals — collecting three assists and two goals.
In the first quarter of play, O’Reilly scored the first goal to go up 1-0 over Cal. With that goal, O’Reilly netted her 50th goal of the season. Cal evened it up with a goal of its own. Ava Morrant was the second goal scorer for the Wolverines, taking the lead 2-1. O’Reilly tossed in her second goal of the game to go up 3-2. Cal scored with one second left on the clock to tie it up at three-all heading into the second quarter.
Cal was then able to get two goals right off the bat to go up 5-3 over Michigan, and tacked on another with three minutes left in the second quarter. Kata Utassy and Maddy Steere each found the back of the net, both coming on a power play, to bring Michigan within 7-5 heading into halftime.
Cal scored first in the third quarter to go up by three goals, 8-5. Elise Walker brought U-M one goal closer to the Golden Bears with a long-distance goal, but Cal scored an additional blow in the third quarter for a 9-6 lead.
In the first two minutes of play in the last frame, Cal scored twice — one on a power play and the other at full strength — to go up 11-6. Walker and Utassy each found the net for a second time in the game before time expired.
Sophie Jackson made seven saves and gave up 13 goals in taking the loss for the Maize & Blue.
Steere finished with a goal and an assist, while O’Reilly added a pair of markers and a helper. Utassay and Walker both scored twice, with Morrant adding a solo tally. Kayla Barone dished out an assist to compete Michigan’s scorers.
For California, Cecily Turner and Elli Protopapas both netted three-goals for hat-tricks. Maryn Dempsey and Emma Wright both chipped in pairs of scores with Kitty Lynn Joustra and Shea Salvino putting away solo strikes. Ruby Swadling added a goal and two assists, while Rozanne Voorvelt handed out an assist.
Isabel Williams earned the win in cage for the Golden Bears with eight saves and eight goals allowed.
Information courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
