IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan water polo team fell twice at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational and will play for Seventh Place on Sunday, February 24.
Michigan had high hopes going into the second day of the tournament with an opportunity against No. 3 University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). Things did not go the Wolverines’ way as they took 15-5 and 12-8 losses to the Bruins and No. 10 University of the Pacific, respectively.
In Game One, UCLA used a strong second quarter to take down the Wolverines and advance to the tournament semifinals.
The Bruins outscored U-M, 5-0, in the second quarter after the squads were tied at 1 at the end of the first. The five second-quarter goals were part of an overall 8-0 run that covered a span of 16:52 between Michigan’s first and second goals.
UCLA continued its offensive output in the second half with nine goals to Michigan’s four.
The game was U-M’s fifth of the season against a team ranked in the top three. The Wolverines have played over one-third of their games against the nation’s best.
Freshman Kayla Barone was a bright spot for Michigan. Playing in just her second collegiate game, the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native scored two goals to give her three in her career. U-M’s other goals were scored by freshmen Abby Andrews and Ava Morrant, and sophomore Kathy Rogers.
In a rematch between two Top-10 teams that went Michigan’s way earlier this season, Pacific was able to come out on top the second time around.
Similar to the first game of the day for the Wolverines, U-M scored the game’s first goal and then went on a scoring drought. This time, Michigan failed to score over 11:16 as the Tigers built a 5-1 advantage.
The lead would stretch to 9-3 in the third period before the Wolverines started to charge back. U-M outscored Pacific, 3-1, in the final 3:22 of the quarter. The Tigers were able to match U-M in the final period, 2-2, to close out the game with the 12-9 win.
Two freshmen, Andrews and Erin Neustrom, led the Wolverines with two goals each.
Michigan will take on No. 8-ranked Arizona State University on Sunday, February 24, in the tournament’s Seventh-Place game.
Information courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
