ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated No. 6 Princeton University, 7-6, and No. 20 Brown University, 11-10, in the Wolverines’ inaugural contests at Canham Natatorium since March 5.
Alex Brown led the Wolverines defensively with 22 saves, 12 coming against No. 6 Princeton and ten in the first half against Brown. Offensively, Lola Ciruli and Kata Utassy each recorded six points over the two games.\
Michigan entered the team’s first game of the day versus Princeton looking to avenge an 11-9 loss to the Tigers two weeks ago. Michigan got on the board first with a bullet to the back of the net from Ava Morrant. The Princeton came storming back with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead, but Ciruli skipped a shot past the keeper to tie it up at two-all. Utassy and Princeton each collected one more goal, heading into the second quarter all tied up at three-all.
The second quarter feature defense from both teams as they each managed one goal each. Princeton fired a shot from deep to the back of the net to collect its final lead of the game at 4-3. Thirty seconds later, Utassy fired a shot to the top-right corner of the goal to tie the game at four-all heading into the half. Brown was a wall in goal, collecting eight saves in the first half alone.
Michigan struck first in the third quarter with Elise Walker firing a rocket past the goalie from 13 meters out for a 5-4 lead. Morrant lobed a shot over the goalie’s head and into the net to give Michigan a two-goal lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Erin Neustrom collected Michigan’s seventh goal of the game giving Michigan a very crucial cushion with seven minutes left in regulation. The Tigers fought back scoring twice and pulling within one, but Brown came up big with a massive save with three seconds to go and Michigan held on for the 7-6 win.
Ciruli and Utassy led Michigan offensively with three points each, while Brown recorded 12 saves and two steals for the Wolverines defensively.
The Maize and Blue continued its dominance in the first quarter against Brown with six goals, while allowing just one. Morrant struck first with a bullet to the back of the net just 18 seconds into the quarter. Neustrom, Ciruli, Libby Alsemgeest, Sammi Monroe and Morrant each chipped a goal to put Michigan ahead 6-1 heading into the second quarter.
Alsemgeest kicked off the second with her second goal of the game, a backhand past the keeper, to put Michigan up 7-1. The Bears were able to take advantage of a five-meter penalty and get that goal back, but Neustrom juked out the keeper with a spinning backhand goal, giving Michigan an 8-2 lead at the half.
The Bears got on the board first in the third with last-second shot on a 6-on-5 power play to cut its deficit to 8-3. Brown drew one goal closer at with 3:24 left in the quarter, but Ashley O’Neill restored the five-goal lead, 9-4. Brooke Ingram took advantage of a penalty, launching a shot off the post and in to give Michigan a six-goal cushion at 10-4 with three minutes left in the third period. Brown scored once more, and late in the quarter was awarded a penalty shot, but Madie Ambrose came up with a big save to keeping Michigan in front 10-5.
In the final quarter of play, Brown rattled off four unanswered goals to pull within one, 10-9, before Utassy skipped it in from the penalty spot to provide an insurance goal 1:44 left in regulation. The Bears put one last goal on the board with 41 seconds left on the clock but could not find the equalizer and the Wolverines won 11-10.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
