Michigan Wins Nailbiter Against Harvard, Doubles Up Bucknell in CWPA Action

Saturday, April 2

Princeton, N.J.

9:00 AM

Michigan

17-8

Harvard

16-5

Harvard

Michigan

Elise Walker (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Wins Nailbiter Against Harvard, Doubles Up Bucknell in CWPA Action

4/2/2022 5:33:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Harvard PDF Boxscore Bucknell PDF Boxscore

By: Bridgette Underwood

» Elise Walker and Erin Neustrom combined for eight out of the 12 goals scored against Harvard in a 12-10 win.
» Eleven Wolverines found the back of the net against Bucknell for a 14-7 win.
» Michigan improved to 6-0 in CWPA play, with two more conference games slated for tomorrow.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated No. 22-ranked Harvard, 12-10, and Bucknell, 14-7, Saturday (April 2) to kick off a four-game weekend of conference play at DeNunzio Pool.

Michigan (18-8, 6-0 CWPA) was led by Erin Neustrom and Elise Walker with five goals apiece over the two-game span; each scored four times in the first game against Harvard. Alex Brown recorded 14 saves for the Wolverines over two halves of play.

Michigan will face off against Mount St. Mary's at noon and against No. 19 Princeton at 3 p.m. on Sunday (April 3).

Game 1: #7 Michigan 12, #22 Harvard 10

Neustrom struck first for the Wolverines within the first 28 seconds of play. One minute later, Maddie O'Reilly followed with a goal of her own, putting Michigan up 2-0 only a minute and a half into the first quarter. Harvard struck back with two goals to tie up the game, 2-2. Michigan had the last say as the first quarter came to a close, as Neustrom found the back of the once more and Kayla Barone fired one in to put the Wolverines up 4-2.

Harvard struck first in the second quarter but was only able to muster up two goals in the second. Walker netted back-to-back goals, and O'Reilly snuck in her second goal of the game to help give Michigan a 7-4 lead heading into halftime.

In the third quarter, Harvard outscored Michigan 5-3 to close the deficit to one heading into the fourth quarter. Neustrom, Walker and Barone all chipped in a goal in the third to keep Harvard at bay.

The fourth quarter belonged to Michigan, as Neustrom and Walker both scored their fourth goals to push Michigan over Harvard 12-10.

Michigan was led by Neustrom and Walker with four goals apiece, while O'Reilly and Barone each chipped in two. Maddy Steere came up big for the Wolverines with four steals and one field block. Between the pipes, Brown started the first half and collected six saves while allowing four goals. Sophie Jackson took over in the second half and collecting two saves against six goals allowed.

Game 2: #7 Michigan 14, Bucknell 7

Walker and Neustrom picked up right where they left off in the second game of the day against Bucknell, scoring the first two goals for the Wolverines. Sammi Monroe and Sophie Tovani each scored in the first quarter as well, pushing Michigan to a 4-1 lead over the Bison.

In the second quarter of play, Lola Ciruli struck first on a penalty shot to give Michigan another goal. Barone and Ashley O'Neill each found the back of the net in the second to help push Michigan to a 7-2 lead heading into halftime.

Ava Morrant fired a shot into the back of the net to score first in the second half. Barone was right behind her, chipping in her second goal of the game. Kasey Umlauf and Ciruli both scored in the third to put U-M up 11-5 over Bucknell.

In the final quarter of play, Kata Utassy score twice and Grace Harbaugh scored once to lift Michigan past the Bison for the second time this season.

Michigan was led by Barone, Ciruli and Utassy with two goals apiece, while Harbaugh, Monroe, Neustrom, Morrant, Umlauf, Walker, O'Neil and Tovani each chipped in one. On the defensive side, Steere shined once again, recording five steals. Brown recorded eight saves and allowed only two goals in the first half, and Jackson recorded six saves and allowed five goals.