Michigan Ends Wolverine Invitational 4-0 with Victories Over St. Francis, Salem

Sunday, March 6

Ann Arbor, Mich.

10:30 AM

Michigan

12-7

Saint Francis

8-11

St. Francis (PA)

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Michigan Ends Wolverine Invitational 4-0 with Victories Over St. Francis, Salem

3/6/2022 6:37:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 St. Francis PDF Boxscore Salem PDF Boxscore Tournament Central Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Bridgette Underwood

» Erin Neustrom, Maddie O'Reilly, and Kayla Barone all scored four goals in a game against either St. Francis or Salem.
» Neustrom led the charge throughout the day with six goals.
» Michigan will return to action on Saturday (March 19) when it hosts Indiana.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan women's water polo team ended the Wolverine Invitational 4-0, defeating St. Francis (19-1) and Salem (16-4) on the second day of action at Canham Natatorium on Sunday (March 6).

Erin Neustrom led the Wolverines on the day with six goals, four of them coming against Salem. Maddie O'Reilly led the charge against St. Francis with four goals, while Kayla Barone and Neustrom took over against Salem with four goals each.

Game 1: #7 Michigan 19, Saint Francis 1

In the third game of the Wolverine Invitational, Michigan made quick work of St. Francis, scoring 19 goals and only allowing one in the third quarter.

Ava Morrant got a quick goal just 35 seconds into the first quarter to get the offense started for the Wolverines. Kayla Barone, Maddie O'Reilly and Sammi Monroe all chipped in one goal to give Michigan a 4-0 lead through the first quarter.

The second quarter was no different, as four different Michigan players chipped in a goal apiece to end the first half up 8-0 over St. Francis. Sophie Jackson had two saves in the first half and allowed zero goals.

Michigan picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, with Maddie O'Reilly striking first. O'Reilly added her third goal of the game halfway through the third quarter just 28 seconds after Lola Ciruli found the back of the net. Michigan continued to dominate, with Jess Henningsen, Fiona Young and Maddy Steere all scoring for a 14-1 lead over the Red Flash heading into the final quarter of play.

Alex Brown allowed zero goals in the final quarter of play and had six saves in the second half. Michigan netted five goals in the final quarter and Erin Neustrom led the field with two goals. O'Reilly also found the back of the net for the fourth time in the game, with Elise Walker and Kata Utassy chipping in two more.

Maddie O'Reilly led the Wolverines with four goals and two assists. Michigan found the back of the net 19 times on 30 shots with Alex Brown and Sophie Jackson combining for eight saves and just one goal allowed.

Game 2: #7 Michigan 16, Salem 4

In the final game of the Wolverine Invitational, Michigan outscored Salem 16-4 with a stellar eight-goal fourth quarter.

Kayla Barone was the first to strike in Michigan's fourth and final game of the tournament, and Erin Neustrom and Kasey Umlauf followed right behind to give Michigan a 3-1 lead through the first quarter.

Michigan scored two goals (Elise Walker, Ava Morrant) and allowed one in the second quarter against Salem, taking a 5-2 advantage into halftime.

Neustrom scored twice in the third quarter, earning herself a hat trick before the fourth quarter even started. Kayla Barone added her second goal of the game right at the four-minute mark to put the Wolverines up, 8-3, heading into the final quarter.

Michigan dropped eight goals in the final eight minutes, with six of them coming within the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. Barone added two goals with O'Reilly, Morrant, Neustrom, Sophie Tovani, Walker, and Umlauf all chipping in one goal apiece in the final eight minutes of play to lead Michigan to a 16-4 win over Salem.

Michigan was led by Kayla Barone and Erin Neustrom with four goals apiece. Morrant, Umlauf, Utassy, and Walker all netted two goals and Tovani and O'Reilly with one. Alex Brown and Sophie Jackson combined for nine saves and allowed four goals (two each).

Michigan (13-7) will return to action on Saturday (March 19) when it hosts Indiana at Canham Natatorium. The game is slated for an 11 a.m. start.