LA JOLLA, Calif. — The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan water polo team won both of its games to start the Triton Invitational at the University of California-San Diego by topping Division III No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 14-2, before downing No. 10 the University of California-Davis, 7-5, at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.
Michigan advances to the semifinal round of the invitational and will play No. 3/undefeated the University of California-Los Angeles (13-0) on Sunday, February 13. It marks the second meeting of the year between the Wolverines and Bruins as UCLA claimed a 13-9 victory at Michigan on January 30.
In the Maize & Blue’s opening game of the tournament, Michigan cruised to a 14-2 win over Pomona Pitzer as the Wolverines scored five times in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead into intermission.
Maddie O’Reilly and Elise Walker matched each other through the opening half, with each player scoring once in the first and two times in the second quarter.
Kayla Barone carried that momentum into the second half. After scoring in the second quarter herself, the senior added goals in the third and fourth quarters to tie for the team lead in goals.
Maddy Steere, Sammi Monroe, Sofie Pontré (2), Ava Morrant, Ashley O’Neill and Sophie Tovani all scored for the Wolverines.
In the final game of the Saturday session, a Top 10 showdown saw Michigan consistently keep UC-Davis at bay as the Wolverines never trailed in a contest that did see five ties.
Barone put Michigan ahead with her first goal of the game, just nine seconds before the end of the opening quarter to give U-M a 2-1 lead.
Pontré made it 3-2 at the 6:43 mark of the second, and the Aggies tied the game for a third time, 3-3, on Emily Aikema’s second goal of the quarter, this one at the 1:48 mark. Michigan again stole momentum late as Utassy answered the call just 21 seconds later with her first goal of the night at the 1:27 mark to give U-M a 4-3 lead at halftime.
In the second half, UC-Davis tied things at four-all midway through the third quarter only to see U-M again take the lead as Utassy struck again with 2:56 to play for a 5-4 lead.
The Aggies pulled even for the fifth time with 6:40 to play only to see U-M swiftly answer as Erin Neustrom scored just 28 seconds later for a 6-5 lead, before Barone book-ended her night with another goal at the 2:26 mark.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
