Michigan
21-4
Bucknell
8-4
U-M Captures Fifth Consecutive CWPA Championship with Win Over Bucknell
4/24/2021 9:47:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan has won five consecutive CWPA titles and the 10th in program history.
» The Wolverines have won each of their last 15 games and finish the season undefeated at home (8-0)
» Maddie O'Reilly was named CWPA Championship MVP, while Libby Alsemgeest earned Rookie of the Tournament.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: CWPA Championship final
Result: #7 Michigan 12, #20 Bucknell 5
Records: U-M (21-4), BU (8-4)
Next U-M Event: Friday, May 14 -- at NCAA Tournament (Los Angeles, Calif.)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7 ranked University of Michigan water polo team claimed its fifth consecutive Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) championship with a 12-5 victory over Bucknell on Sunday (April 24) at Canham Natatorium.
Maddie O'Reilly was named the the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Libby Alsemgeest earned Rookie of the Tournament. Coach of the Tournament went to Dr. Marcelo Leonardi for a clean sweep of awards for Michigan.
Erin Neustrom had a team-high five points, scoring three goals and collecting two assists, and earned a place on the all-tournament second team. Lola Ciruli had a hat trick, and Anne Rankin and Emily Ritner each had a goal and two assists. O'Reilly added a goal and an assist, and Kata Utassy had two helpers.
Heidi Ritner earned the win, making three saves -- including one on a penalty shot. Alex Brown took over in goal for the third quarter and made two saves. Sophie Jackson played the final quarter and made 3 saves, including one a penalty shot.
Michigan jumped out to a 4-0 lead with goals from Neustrom, Ava Morrant, Ciruli and Alsemgeest.
Paige Furano got Bucknell on the board with a power-play goal with six seconds remaining in the first.
Michigan tacked on another five goals to Bucknell's two in the second quarter to expand the Michigan lead to 9-3 at halftime.
The Wolverines added three more goals in the second half, two from Neustrom and an O'Reilly power-play goal, while Bucknell scored twice.
Heidi Ritner, O'Reilly and Sofie Pontré were named first-team all-tournament with Neustrom, Morant and Emily Ritner claiming second-team honors.
As the CWPA Champion, Michigan receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, scheduled for May 14-16 at UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
CWPA Division I Championship Awards
Most Valuable Player: Maddie O'Reilly (Michigan)
Rookie of the Tournament: Libby Alsemgeest (Michigan)
Coach of the Tournament: Dr. Marcelo Leonardi (Michigan)
All-Tournament Team
First Team
Heidi Ritner (Goalie), Michigan
Maddie O'Reilly, Michigan
Sofie Pontré, Michigan
Ally Furano, Bucknell
Paige Furano, Bucknell
Kali Hyham, Bucknell
Emese Szucs, Saint Francis
Second Team
Rosalinda Rivera (Goalie), Saint Francis
Erin Neustrom, Michigan
Taylor Halbauer, Saint Francis
Ana Luisa Cotta, Mount St. Mary's
Ava Morant, Michigan
Addison Williams, Saint Francis
Emily Ritner, Michigan
Marcela Herrera, Bucknell
Team Stats
Erin Neustrom
5:51
Ava Morrant
4:50
Lola Ciruli
3:10
Libby Alsemgeest
0:33
Paige Furano
0:06
Anne Rankin
6:52
Emily Ritner
4:45
Marcela Herrera
4:16
Lola Ciruli
3:38
Paige Furano
3:19
Sophie Tovani
2:50
Lola Ciruli
0:04
Paige Furano
6:15
Erin Neustrom
5:02
Maddie O'Reilly
7:37
Erin Neustrom
6:57
Kali Hyham
3:05
