BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan water polo team closed out the Midwest Invitational with a 14-8 loss to No. 2 Stanford University at Indiana University’s Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Freshman Ari Karampetsou continued to impress on the offensive end, recording a hat trick to lead the Wolverines in scoring. Issy Jackson also made a strong impact, finding the back of the net twice to contribute to Michigan’s scoring efforts.
Stanford took control early, netting four unanswered goals within the first six minutes of play. Jackson and Lulu Hirschfield responded for Michigan, each finding the back of the net to trim the Cardinal lead to 4-2. However, Stanford struck again in the final minute of the quarter, extending its advantage to 5-2.
Both team’s offense was limited in the second quarter, with Stanford tallying the only goal to extend its lead to 6-2 heading into the half.
After the break, Karampetsou capitalized on back-to-back power plays to cut the deficit to two. Stanford responded with three consecutive goals before Jackson found the net for the second time, making it a 9-5 game in favor of the Cardinal. In the final second of the quarter, U-M captain Ashley O’Neill narrowed the gap to 9-6.
In the final frame, Stanford widened its lead to 11-6 before Emma Gustafsson slipped one past the Cardinal defense. Stanford continued to press, adding three more goals to its total. Karampetsou completed her hat trick in the closing seconds.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
