TEMPE, Ariz. — The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women’s water polo team rued its missed opportunities on the offensive end and dropped its first match of the weekend and season to No. 1 University of Southern California (USC), 10-6, in the Arizona State Invitational at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
The Wolverines provided the first scoring threat of the game on a five-meter penalty, but could not take advantage. The Trojans built a 3-0 lead from there, while Michigan had trouble converting its chances. Shots from freshman Lola Ciruli and sophomore Sophie Tovani were each saved by netminder Holly Parker, while another shot from senior Kathy Rogers hit the post.
The second quarter was more back-and-forth. After a shot from senior Maddie O’Reilly also deflected off the post, junior Ava Morrant got the Wolverines on the board, drawing the score to 3-1 with 5:08 left before halftime. After USC scored to restore its three-goal lead, Morrant scored again, followed by a goal from freshman Kata Utassy to make it 4-3. O’Reilly made good on her second five-meter penalty shot, and Michigan stopped USC on a 6-on-5 to end the half, trimming the deficit to 6-4.
When the Wolverines could not get much going on offense in the third quarter, graduate student Heidi Ritner did her best to keep them in the game, making four saves. But the Trojans scored two more goals and led, 8-4, heading into the fourth quarter.
With 4:30 left, freshman Libby Alsemgeest got on the scoreboard courtesy of a power-play goal, cutting the USC lead to 9-5. The Trojans tacked on another, but Rogers answered, making it 10-6 with 2:20 left. The Wolverines had two final opportunities to close the gap further and try to make it interesting, but shots from sophomore Anne Rankin and Alsemgeest were turned away by Parker.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
