Offensive Explosion Fuels U-M to CWPA Sweep of Bucknell, Mount St. Mary's

Saturday, March 20

Lewisburg, Pa.

Noon

Michigan

10-4

Bucknell

1-2

Michigan

Bucknell

Ella Abbott (Michigan Photography)

Offensive Explosion Fuels U-M to CWPA Sweep of Bucknell, Mount St. Mary's

3/20/2021 4:36:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score

By: Brad Rudner

» U-M swept No. 23 Bucknell, 16-5, and Mount St. Mary's, 21-1, to open CWPA play on Saturday.
» The Wolverines jumped out to a 3-0 lead vs. the Bison in the first game. Ten different players scored for Michigan.
» Michigan's 21-1 win over Mount St. Mary's was the program's first 20-goal game since April 2019.

Site: Lewisburg, Pa. (Kinney Natatorium)
Scores: #7 Michigan 16, #23 Bucknell 5; #7 Michigan 21, Mount St. Mary's 1
Records: U-M (11-4), Bucknell (1-2), MSM (0-7)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 21 -- at #25 Saint Francis (Loretto, Pa.), 9 a.m.

• PDF Boxscore: #7 Michigan 16, #23 Bucknell 5

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team kicked off its first day of CWPA play with a sweep of No. 23 Bucknell, 16-5, and Mount St. Mary's, 21-1, on Saturday (March 20) 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 (21-2). The 20-goal margin of victory on Saturday is just off the program record (22, set March 15, 2013 vs. Mercyhurst).

Game 1: No. 7 Michigan 16, No. 23 Bucknell 5

The Wolverines jumped out to a 4-1 start after the first quarter, stifling the Bison on both ends. 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 freshman Sammi 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.

Game 2: No. 7 Michigan 21, Mount St. Mary's 1

The Wolverines picked up right where they left off against first-year program Mount St. Mary's, jumping out to an 8-1 lead after the first quarter. Anne Rankin was red-hot at the outset, scoring a hat trick within the first three minutes of the contest. Libby 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 Kata 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: Elise Walker, Maddie O'Reilly, Erin 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 Ella Abbott added goals in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

The Wolverines continue with CWPA play Sunday (March 21) in Loretto, Pa., facing No. 25 Saint Francis at 9 a.m. and Mount St. Mary's at 11:30 a.m.