FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan water polo team came up short in a 16-14 battle against host/No. 9 Fresno State on the first day of Polo-Palooza at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Freshman Ari Karampetsou made her Wolverines’ debut, racking five points with four goals and one assist to lead the offense. Emma Gustafsson delivered in the season-opening game as she netted three goals. Ashley O’Neill and Tilly Waugh each netted a pair of goals to help the Wolverines’ offensive efforts.
Michigan took an early three-goal lead in the first two minutes of the game after Karampetsou, O’Neill and Sophia Panossian each found the back of the net. Fresno State responded with four goals to give the hosts a brief lead. The Maize and Blue regained its lead after goals from Karampetsou and Gustafsson to make the score 5-4. The Bulldogs closed out the first quarter scoring back-to-back goals to give them a 6-5 lead.
Fresno State tallied another goal to start the second quarter. Karampetsou added another for the Wolverines to keep it a one-goal game, 7-6. The Bulldogs struck once again, but Kasey Umlauf and Gustafsson quickly converted two goals to tie the game at eight apiece. The two teams each netted goals to keep the game tied. In the final minute of the half, Fresno State scored a goal to take a 9-8 lead.
After trading goals in the first minute of the third quarter, Fresno State added two more to make the game 13-10 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Wolverines went on a 3-0 run to tie the game after Waugh scored two straight and Brooke Ingram added the other. The game shifted to the final eight minutes deadlocked at 13-all.
O’Neill tallied her second of the night at 5:00 in the fourth to give the Wolverines a 14-13 lead. The Bulldogs, however, responded by scoring three straight goals to rally back for a 16-14 victory.
Information courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
