IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated No. 21 San Diego State University, 13-5, in the 11th place game on the final day of the 2023 Barbara Kalbus Invitational hosted by the University of California-Irvine at the Anteater Aquatic Complex.
Libby Alsemgeest led Michigan with three goals, while Sophie Tovani recorded four points via two goals and two assists. Alex Brown was the star between the posts with 11 saves, and Sammi Monroe came up with three steals.
Monroe won the first sprint of the game to give Michigan its first offensive possession. Lola Ciruli struck first for the Wolverines with an assist given to Brown. Two minutes later, Alsemgeest beat the goalie and put it in the back of the cage, giving U-M a 2-0 margin.
San Diego State was able to sneak the ball past Brown for its first goal before Monroe took advantage on a power play to give Michigan back a two-goal lead. Ava Morrant added one more tally to place the Maize and Blue in front at 4-2 after the first quarter of play.
Kata Utassy fired a shot into the cage for the first goal of the second quarter off a pass from Sophie Tovani. Erin Neustrom and Tovani got in on the fun with goals of their own, pushing Michigan head 7-2. The Aztecs added a goal two minutes before the half, closing their deficit to four at 7-3.
Utassy started off the second half with a shot to the back of the net with three minutes left in the third quarter. Tovani scored her second goal of the game on a power play and an assist from Fiona Young to give U-M a 9-3 lead after three quarters.
Alsemgeest netted her second and third goals of the game with help from Ciruli, earning a hat trick and pulling the Wolverines to an 11-3 lead with six minutes to play. The Aztecs posted a goal before Neustrom recorded her second marker and Issy Jackson scored her first with one minute left in regulation. San Diego State added one more goal before the game ended, but Michigan took the win, 13-5.
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications
