BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — University of Michigan rising senior Isabelle (Issy) Jackson (Auckland, New Zealand/Diocesan Schools for Girls) and Hartwick College Hall of Fame member Megan Thomson helped New Zealand turn back Japan (13-8 W) as the squad finished fourth in Group A at the 2025 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
Additional information on the championship – including results of each game – is available by CLICKING HERE.
Thomson – who was inducted to the Hartwick Hall of Fame in 2022 – is serving as New Zealand’s head coach for the World University Games.
A 2025 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Conference and CWPA Championship Second Team selection, Jackson assisted New Zealand in downing Japan on Thursday, July 17 (13-8 W) prior to the team dropping games to the United States of America (12-10 L) on Friday, July 18, and Italy (12-7 L) on Sunday, July 20.
Against Japan, she shot one-for-three on action shots as New Zealand built leads of 5-2 and 9-5 by the conclusion of the first and second quarters prior to acquiring a 4-3 scoring advantage in the second half to claim a 13-8 victory.
Facing the United States, she shot zero-for-one as New Zealand went ahead 4-3 by the end of the first quarter. However, the Americans outscored New Zealand 3-2 in both the second, third and fourth quarters, to rally for a 12-10 win.
Taking on Italy in the final game of Group A competition, Jackson did not get off a shot as New Zealand was outscored 3-2, 3-2, 2-1 and 4-2 in the first-to-fourth quarters, respectively, in a 12-7 loss.
New Zealand claims fourth place in Group A as Italy finished first with a 2-1 record/seven points thanks to a 9-7 defeat of the United States and an 18-17 loss to Japan in penalty shots. Japan claims second place/five points with a 13-12 defeat of the United States. The United States and New Zealand both finished with single wins/three points, however, the Americans claim the No. 3 position due to the head-to-head result between the two nations.
New Zealand will return to the water on Tuesday, July 22, against Group B champion Hungary at 6:00 p.m. local time in the quarterfinals. In the other quarterfinal matchups, Italy will meet Turkey (12:45 p.m.), Japan faces Germany (2:30 p.m.) and the United States tangles with Australia (4:15 p.m.).
