ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan water polo team delivered another strong performance at Canham Natatorium by rolling to a decisive 19-7 victory over Bucknell University in non-conference action before overpowering Saint Francis University in Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) competition, 20-5, on the second day of the Wolverine Invitational.
Sophomore Emma Gustafsson led the offensive charge, tallying seven goals and an assist across both games while surpassing the 100-career-point milestone. Team captain Ashley O’Neill was equally impressive, notching five goals and an assist on the day. In net, goalkeepers Sophia Bunnell and Katie Delaney provided a strong defensive presence, combining for 16 saves between the two matchups.
Against Bucknell, Michigan started fast with Gustafsson striking first to put the Wolverines on the board. U-M continued its early dominance with goals from Sophia Panossian, Issy Jackson and Ari Karampetsou to build a 4-0 advantage. The Bison managed to break through with a goal in the final second of the quarter, but Michigan held a comfortable 4-1 lead.
The Wolverines continued their strong play in the second quarter as Gustafsson capitalized on an exclusion to extend the lead. Maiken Pardon and Gustafsson each added another goal, pushing the advantage to 7-1. Bucknell responded with a pair of goals, but the Maize and Blue stayed in control, with O’Neill and Matilda Waugh finding the net. The Wolverines carried a 9-3 lead into the break.
Kasey Umlauf opened the third quarter with a quick goal, followed by another from Pardon to make it 11-3. Michigan kept the momentum going with two more goals before Abby Schulz capped off the quarter with a final strike, giving the Wolverines a 14-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Maize and Blue showed no signs of slowing down in the final quarter, as Gustafsson notched her fourth goal of the game. Maddy Scarth added back-to-back goals, while Kaia Levenfeld pushed Michigan ahead 19-5. Bucknell managed two late goals, but the Wolverines closed out the win.
In game two, U-M shut out Saint Francis in the first quarter while netting six consecutive goals. Gustafsson was the first to strike, scoring at the 6:31 mark, followed by goals from Hirschfield, O’Neill, Emilia Mladjan and Claire Eusey to give Michigan a 6-0 lead.
U-M kept the pressure on in the second frame, adding five more goals. The Red Flash got on the board late in the quarter, but Michigan’s offense left it with an 11-2 lead by halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Wolverines continued their offensive efficiency. Gustafsson scored her second goal of the game early in the third, while Mladjan and Eusey helped push the lead to 15-4 heading into the final frame.
Michigan capped off the victory with a five-goal fourth quarter, highlighted by scores from Riley Chapple, Scarth, Levenfeld and Mladjan to seal a 15-goal win.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
