FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan water polo team secured its first victory of the 2025 season by defeating No. 18 San Jose State University, 15-13, during day two of Polo-Palooza at Fresno State’s Aquatics Center. Brooke Ingram led the Wolverines with a game-high four goals on six attempts. Ashley O’Neill, Ari Karampetsou and Emma Gustafsson each added two goals to power Michigan’s offense.
Michigan – which improves to 1-1 on the season – struck early, with Karampetsou breaking through the Spartans’ defense just 39 seconds into the contest. San Jose State quickly responded to tie the game at one-all, but Michigan answered with goals from Ingram and Jillian Schlom to take a 3-1 lead. After the Spartans scored twice to tie it at three-all, Ingram delivered another goal to regain the lead for Michigan. San Jose State closed the quarter with three goals, but junior transfer Maiken Pardon found the back of the net to keep the Wolverines within one at 6-5.
The second quarter saw a flurry of goals, with the teams trading scores. O’Neill tallied back-to-back goals to push Michigan ahead 8-7, and each team added a goal in the final minute, leaving the Wolverines with a 9-8 advantage at halftime.
Gustafsson extended Michigan’s lead to 10-8 early in the third quarter, but the Spartans rallied with three unanswered goals to take an 11-10 edge. Gustafsson came through again with the tying goal at 1:06, setting up a dramatic final quarter.
The fourth quarter featured back-and-forth scoring before Michigan pulled ahead 14-12 with two unanswered goals. After the Spartans cut the lead to one, Ingram sealed the victory with her fourth goal, securing the 15-13 win.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
