FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team split its day at the Bulldog Fest by defeating host/No. 8 Fresno State University, 13-9, in their first game before falling to No. 6 University of Hawaii, 15-6, at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Michigan jumped out the gate pulling to an early 4-2 lead after the first quarter of play versus Fresno State. The first goal came from Elise Walker, assisted by Lola Ciruli. The Bulldogs evened the game at one-all, but 20 seconds later, Libby Alsemgeest beat the Bulldogs goalie to move U-M back in front 2-1. Brooke Ingram closed the first quarter with back-to-back goals off penalty shots, with Fresno State scoring between Ingram’s tallies.
In the second quarter, Michigan outscored the Bulldogs 4-3, giving U-M an 8-5 lead heading into the second half. Fresno State scored seven seconds into the quarter to bring the Bulldogs within a goal at 4-3, Kata Utassy answered 23 seconds later to build the Michigan lead back to two at 5-3. Goals from Walker, Issy Jackson and Alsemgeest extended the lead to 7-3. Fresno State scored two quick goals, but Utassy found the back of the net once again with 36 seconds left in the half to make it 8-5 at the break.
The third quarter was more of a battle, with the Bulldogs striking twice and the Wolverines finding the back of the net once, via strike by Erin Neustrom as the Wolverines held a 9-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Just like in the first quarter, Michigan outscored Fresno State 4-2 with all four goals coming from different Wolverines — Ava Morrant, Neustrom, Sammi Monroe and Ashley O’Neill.
Alex Brown collected 17 saves, while Utassy led Michigan with three points off two goals and an assist. Neustrom, Alsemgeest, Morrant, Walker and Ingram joined Utassy in notching pairs with O’Neill and Monroe contributing solo strikes.
In the Maize & Blue’s final contest of the day, Hawaii took control early in the first quarter, scoring on a power play followed by an even-strength goal to pull out to an early 2-0 lead. Morrant took advantage of a penalty and found the back of the net to pull Michigan within one. The Rainbow Wahine came back with two more goals to take a 4-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
Hawaii kept its momentum going, scoring back-to-back goals before Utassy fired a shot to the back of the cage with an assist from Morrant to make the score 6-2. Hawaii answered with a goal of its own and another with one second to go in the first half to hold a 8-2 lead entering halftime.
In the final half of play, Michigan continued to struggle on offense as the Rainbow Wahine outscored the Wolverines, 7-4, to take a 15-6 victory. Utassy and Ciruli scored a goal each and Walker tallied a pair to account for the Michigan’s second half offense.
Utassy and Elise Walker both netted pairs with Ciruli and Morrant tacking on solo markers. Brown stopped nine shots in taking the loss.
Information courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
