Michigan
Fresno State
U-M Splits With No. 8 Fresno State, No. 6 Hawai'i on First Day of Bulldog Fest
1/21/2023 6:50:00 PM | Water Polo
» Michigan rolled past No. 8 Fresno State in game one, but lost to No. 6 Hawai'i in game two.
» Kata Utassy and Elise Walker led the Wolverines with four goals each on the day.
» Alex Brown helped the Wolverines shut down Fresno State with 17 saves.
» Michigan will be back in action Sunday (Jan. 22) at 9:30 a.m. PST against No. 4 California in Fresno, Calif. for the last game of Bulldog fest.
Site: Fresno, Calif. (Fresno State Aquatics Center)
Event: Bulldog Fest (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #7 Michigan 13, #8 Fresno State 9; #6 Hawai'i 15, #7 Michigan 6
Records: U-M (5-1), Fresno State (0-1), Hawai'i (4-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 22 -- vs. No. 4 California - Bulldog Fest, Day Two (Fresno, Calif.), 9:30 a.m. PST
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan water polo team split its day at Bulldog Fest on Saturday (Jan. 21), defeating host No. 8 Fresno State 13-9 in their first game but falling to No. 6 Hawai'i 15-6 at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Game 1: No. 7 Michigan 13, No. 8 Fresno State 9
Michigan (5-1) jumped out the gate pulling to an early 4-2 lead after the first quarter of play. The first goal came from Elise Walker, assisted by Lola Ciruli. The Bulldogs evened tha game at 1, but 20 seconds later, Libby Alsemgeest beat the Bulldogs goalie to move U-M back in front 2-1. Brooke Ingram closed the first quarter with back-to-back goals off penalty shots, with Fresno State scoring between Ingram's tallies.
In the second quarter, Michigan outscored the Bulldogs 4-3, giving U-M an 8-5 lead heading into the second half. Fresno State (0-1) scored seven seconds into the quarter to bring the Bulldogs within a goal at 4-3, but 23 seconds later, Kata Utassy answered to push the Michigan lead back to two, 5-3. Goals from Walker, Issy Jackson and Alsemgeest extended the lead to 7-3. Fresno State scored two quick goals, but Utassy found the back of the net once again with 36 seconds left in the half.
The third quarter was more of a battle, with the Bulldogs striking twice and the Wolverines found the back of the net once, courtesy of Erin Neustrom, and the Wolverines held a 9-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Just like in the first quarter, Michigan outscored Fresno State 4-2 with all four goals coming from different Wolverines -- Ava Morrant, Neustrom, Sammi Monroe and the Ashley O'Neill.
Alex Brown collected 17 saves, while Utassy led Michigan with three points and five Wolverines each netted two goals each.
Game 2: No. 6 Hawai'i 15, No. 7 Michigan 6
Hawai'i (4-0) took control early in the first quarter, scoring on a power play followed by an even-strength goal to pull to an early 2-0 lead. Morrant took advantage of a penalty and found the back of the net to pull Michigan within one. The Rainbow Wahine came back with two more goals to take a 4-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
Hawai'i kept its momentum going, scoring back-to-back goals before Utassy fired a shot to the back of the cage with an assist from Morrant to make the score 6-2. Hawai'i came right back with a goal of its own and another with one second to go in the first half and headed into halftime up 8-2.
In the final half of play, Michigan could not find its offensive stride it was outscored 7-4 the rest of the game. Utassy and Ciruli scored a goal each and Walker tallied twice, but could not mount a comeback.
Michigan is back in action Sunday (Jan. 22) at 9:30 a.m. PST against No. 4 California in Fresno, Calif., for the last game of Bulldog fest.
