ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan water polo team put on a commanding performance at Canham Natatorium by securing a 17-7 victory over Division III No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and a 21-7 win versus Salem University to close out the Wolverine Invitational.
Ari Karampetsou and Lulu Hirschfield each recorded a hat trick in Michigan’s victory over Pomona-Pitzer. Against Salem, Emma Gustafsson led the charge with five goals, while 11 different Wolverines contributed to the scoring in a well-balanced offensive effort. Riley Chapple also had a standout day, scoring twice in both matchups.
Michigan wasted no time making an impact in game one, scoring six unanswered goals in the opening frame while keeping Pomona-Pitzer off the board. Karampetsou struck first, with Maiken Pardon, Hirschfield and Ashley O’Neill adding to the early surge.
The Wolverines extended their lead in the second quarter, again holding the Sagehens scoreless. Goals from Jillian Schlom, Hirschfield and Emilia Mladjan helped Michigan build a 9-0 halftime advantage.
Pomona-Pitzer found the back of the net early in the third quarter, but Michigan quickly responded with tallies from Chapple, Karampetsou, and Pardon. Though the Sagehens scored two more late goals, the Wolverines maintained a 12-3 lead entering the fourth quarter.
U-M closed out the game with five fourth-quarter goals from Sophia Panossian, Hirschfield and Chapple. The Sagehens added a few more to their total, but Michigan secured a convincing 17-7 win.
In game two, the Wolverines started fast again with goals from Gustafsson and Pardon. Salem responded to keep the game close, but a late Panossian goal helped Michigan end the first quarter tied at three-all.
The Maize and Blue dominated the second quarter, outscoring Salem 7-0. Gustafsson and Pardon each scored again, while Kasey Umlauf, Schlom, Harriet Dickens, Matilda Waugh and Abby Schulz all contributed to the scoring. The defense shut down Salem’s attack to help U-M take a 10-3 lead into halftime.
Michigan added six more goals in the third quarter, including the completion of Gustafsson’s hat trick. Issy Jackson, Waugh, Chapple, Jordan Schneider and Kaia Levenfeld also found the back of the net, pushing the lead to 16-3.
The Wolverines remained in control in the fourth, tacking on five more goals from Mladjan, Chapple, Hirschfield and Gustafsson. U-M closed out the tournament with a 21-7 victory.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
