LEWISBURG, Pa. — The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team kicked off its first day of Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I play with a sweep of host/No. 23 Bucknell University, 16-5, and Mount St. Mary’s University, 21-1, at Kinney Natatorium.
The 21-1 win over Mount St. Mary’s marked the first 20-goal game for the Wolverines since April 6, 2019, against Brown University (21-2). The 20-goal margin of victory on Saturday is just off the program record (22, set March 15, 2013 vs. Mercyhurst University).
Facing the host Bison, the Wolverines jumped out to a 4-1 start after the first quarter by stifling Bucknell on both ends of the tank. Senior Maddie O’Reilly got on the scoreboard right away, converting a five-meter penalty and one-timing a shot off an assist from senior Emily Ritner. Sophomore Anne Rankin made it 3-0 before Bucknell ended the run with a goal. Freshman Sammi Monroe was fouled on a breakaway, earning a five-meter penalty that was converted by freshman Kata Utassy to make the score 4-1.
Michigan took the game over in the second quarter and did not look back. O’Reilly increased the lead to 5-1 with a slick no-look goal, faking the pass inside but instead surprising the keeper with a shot inside the near post. Junior Erin Neustrom added a goal on the following possession, forcing a Bucknell timeout. The second unit got a good bit of run in the second quarter — freshman Libby Alsemgeest scored twice with additional power-play goals coming from Monroe and sophomores Ella Abbott and Sophie Tovani. U-M led 11-3 at halftime.
The Wolverines did not let up in the second half, as goals from junior Kayla Barone (five-meter penalty) and Utassy extended the lead to 13-4 at the end of the third quarter. Neustrom, senior Kathy Rogers and freshman Elise Walker chipped in goals in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring at 16-5.
U-M shot 59 percent (16-for-27), while holding Bucknell to 20 percent (5-for-24). The penalty kill once again proved to be a strength, as the Wolverine defense held the Bison to a 1-for-9 clip with the man-advantage.
Junior Sophie Jackson and sophomore Alex Brown split time in goal, combining to make eight saves in the contest.
The Wolverines picked up right where they left off against first-year program Mount St. Mary’s in game two by jumping out to an 8-1 lead after the first quarter. Rankin was red-hot at the outset, scoring a hat trick within the first three minutes of the contest. Alsemgeest had a pair of goals in the opening quarter, including a breakaway opportunity in which she just looped the ball over the goalkeeper.
After tallying two assists in the opening quarter, freshman Lola Ciruli added a pair of goals in the second quarter, assisted both times from Utassy. Ciruli then added a third assist, helping Alsemgeest record her own hat trick. The Wolverines held Mount St. Mary’s scoreless in the second quarter and led, 13-1, at the break.
Six different Wolverines scored in the third quarter: Walker, O’Reilly, Neustrom, Ciruli, graduate student Emily Byrne and Alsemgeest. Michigan led, 19-1, going to the fourth quarter.
With a commanding lead, Michigan was in no hurry on offense, killing off the game with perimeter-based play. Walker and Abbott added goals in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
