U-M Opens 2021 Season, Michigan Invite with Wins Over Indiana, Salem

Saturday, February 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

10:30 AM

Michigan

1-0

Indiana

4-1

Indiana

Michigan

Maddie O'Reilly (Michigan Photography)

U-M Opens 2021 Season, Michigan Invite with Wins Over Indiana, Salem

2/20/2021 4:39:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Brad Rudner

» Michigan opened the 2021 season with an 8-5 win over No. 13 Indiana and a 12-7 win over Salem at the Micigan Invitational.
» Between the two wins, 16 Wolverines recorded at least one point. Kata Utassy and Anne Rankin each scored three goals, while Sophie Tovani and Sammi Monroe had two apiece.
» All three goalies saw action. Heidi Ritner played the full game vs. Indiana, while Alex Brown and Sophie Jackson split time in the win over Salem.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #6 Michigan 8, #13 Indiana 5; #6 Michigan 12, Salem 7
Records: U-M (2-0), IU (4-1), SU (0-5)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 21 -- vs. St. Francis (Pa.) - Michigan Invitational, Day 2 (Canham Natatorium), 9 a.m.

• PDF Boxscores: #13 Indiana | Salem
• Photo Gallery | Tournament Central

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan water polo team returned to competition for the first time in nearly a year, sweeping No. 13 Indiana, 8-5, and Salem, 12-7, on Saturday (Feb. 20) during the first day of the Michigan Invitational at Canham Natatorium.

Game 1: #6 Michigan 8, #13 Indiana 5

The Wolverines jumped out to an early lead and never relented. Junior Erin Neustrom opened the scoring, but Indiana's Kallie White answered back 80 seconds later to level the score. Additional goals from senior Sofie Pontré and freshman Libby Alsemgeest gave Michigan a 3-1 lead after the first quarter.

The defense held Indiana scoreless for the majority of the second quarter, as Indiana (4-1) only found the back of the net once with 15 seconds left before halftime. Freshman Kata Utassy bagged two goals in the second -- one from a penalty and one with an extra attacker -- while sophomore Anne Rankin also found the back of the net. The Wolverines led, 6-3, at halftime.

The visitors chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, but a beautiful save from graduate student Heidi Ritner kept Michigan's two-goal advantage heading into the fourth.

The Hoosiers got to within one, 6-5, with 7:15 left on an exclusion goal from Tina Doherty, but Rankin answered right back 21 seconds later to make it 7-5. Senior Maddie O'Reilly put the game on ice with a penalty goal with 3:24 left, and Michigan (2-0) killed off the rest of the game for the win.

Ritner was busy in net, making five saves, four steals and chipping in an assist. Pontré had two assists in addition to her goal.

Game 2: Michigan 12, Salem 7

The Wolverines found themselves right back in the water following the morning win and wasted little time getting going, scoring the first three goals of the game through O'Reilly, Rankin and Utassy.

A turning point came in the second quarter. With a 4-2 lead, sophomore Alex Brown, who started the game, turned back a penalty shot from Salem's (0-5) Erin Zappia. That momentum translated into offense on the other end, as freshman Sammi Monroe converted her own penalty shot. Freshman Elise Walker, sophomore Ella Abbott and freshman Alison Lock followed with goals of their own to give Michigan an 8-3 lead at the break.

Junior Sophie Jackson replaced Brown in goal for the second half and made a great save on Salem's Margherita Garibbo on the breakaway. Jackson made seven saves in goal.

Ten different Wolverines scored in the win, led by Monroe and sophomore Sophie Tovani, each of whom scored twice. Jackson and Brown combined for 12 saves, and Michigan went a perfect 8-for-8 on sprints in its two games on Saturday.

U-M will be back in Canham for two more games Sunday (Feb. 21) as they take on Saint Francis (Pa.) at 9 a.m. and No. 13 Indiana at 6 p.m. to close out the Wolverine Invitational.