CLAREMONT, Calif. — The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team was upended by No. 3 the University of Southern California, 25-9, at Pomona-Pitzer College’s Haldeman Pool during the first day of the 2026 Claremont Convergence. Emilia Mladjan recorded her first hat trick of the season, while Ari Karampetsou added three goals for the Wolverines.
Michigan opened the game with momentum as Mladjan scored back-to-back goals just over a minute into the contest before converting on a power play off a pass from Emma Gustafsson three minutes later. However, USC responded with nine first-quarter goals to take a 9-3 lead after eight minutes of action.
Karampetsou netted her first goal of the match in the second quarter on a power play. Mixed in with four Trojans’ goals, Kaia Levenfeld added Michigan’s fifth score as USC extended its advantage to 13-5 heading into halftime.
Karampetsou converted a penalty shot for Michigan’s lone goal of the third quarter. She added another in the fourth quarter, while Gustafsson got on the board with a late score and Levenfeld tallied her second of the game.
Issy Jackson and Claire Eusey each drew multiple exclusions, with Jackson drawing four and Eusey three, to support the Wolverines on defense. Sophia Bunnell finished with 13 saves, two shy of her career high.
Information courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
