Michigan Advances to Semifinals of UCSD Triton Invitational

Saturday, February 12

La Jolla, Calif.

11:10 AM PT

Michigan

6-3

Pomona-Pitzer

2-7

Pomona-Pitzer

Michigan

Kata Utassy (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Advances to Semifinals of UCSD Triton Invitational

2/12/2022 11:02:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Michigan swept a pair of games to start the UCSD Triton Invitational, defeating Pomona-Pitzer 14-2 and No. 10 UC Davis 7-5.
» In the nightcap, UC Davis tied the game five times before U-M pulled away late.
» Michigan will play No. 3 UCLA on Sunday at noon PST.

Site: La Jolla, Calif. (Canyonview Aquatic Center)
Event: UCSD Triton Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #5 Michigan 14, Pomona-Pitzer 2; #5 Michigan 7, #10 UC Davis 5
Records: U-M (7-3), P-P (2-7), UC Davis (6-4)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 13 -- vs. #3 UCLA - Triton Invitational, Day 2 (San Diego, Calif., Noon PST

• PDF Boxscores: Pomona-Pitzer | UC Davis

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan water polo team won both of its games Saturday (Feb. 12) to start the UCSD Triton Invitational, topping Pomona-Pitzer 14-2 before downing No. 10-ranked UC Davis 7-5 at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.

Michigan advances to the semifinal round of the invitational and will play No. 3-ranked UCLA (13-0) on Sunday (Feb. 13) in a noon PST start.

Michigan 14, Pomona-Pitzer 2

The its opening game of the tournament, Michigan cruised to a 14-2 win over Pomona Pitzer as the Wolverines scored five times in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead into intermission.

Maddie O'Reilly and Elise Walker matched each other through the opening half, with each player scoring once in the first and two times in the second quarter.

Kayla Barone carried that momentum into the second half. After scoring in the second quarter herself, the senior added goals in the third and fourth quarters to tie for the team lead in goals.

Maddy Steere, Sammi Monroe, Sofie Pontré (2), Ava Morrant, Ashley O'Neill and Sophie Tovani all scored for the Wolverines.

Michigan 7, No. 10 UC Davis 5

In the final game of the Saturday session, a top-10 showdown saw Michigan consistently keep UC Davis at bay as the Wolverines never trailed in a contest that did see five ties.

Kayla Barone put Michigan ahead with her first goal of the game, just nine seconds before the end of the opening quarter to give U-M a 2-1 lead.

Sofie Pontré made it 3-2 at the 6:43 mark of the second, and UC Davis tied the game for a third time, 3-3, on Emily Aikema's second goal of the quarter, this one at the 1:48 mark. Michigan again stole momentum late as Kata Utassy answered the call just 21 seconds later with her first goal of the night at the 1:27 mark to give U-M a 4-3 lead at halftime.

In the second half, UC Davis tied things at 4 midway through the third quarter only to see U-M again take the lead as Utassy struck again with 2:56 to play for a 5-4 lead.

UC Davis pulled even for the fifth time with 6:40 to play only to see U-M swiftly answer as Erin Neustrom scored just 28 seconds later for a 6-5 lead, before Barone book-ended her night with another goal at the 2:26 mark.