Michigan Falls Short in Comeback Against No. 7 Long Beach State

Friday, February 24

Irvine, Calif.

4:15 PM PT

Michigan

9-6

Long Beach State

9-2

Michigan

Long Beach State

Ava Morrant (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Falls Short in Comeback Against No. 7 Long Beach State

2/24/2023 10:28:00 PM | Water Polo

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By: Bridgette Underwood

» Ava Morrant led Michigan with three goals.
» Alex Brown recorded 10 saves.
» Michigan will be back in action against Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday (Feb. 24) at 8 a.m. PST.

Site: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Aquatic Complex)
Event: Barbara Kalbus Invitational
Score: #7 Long Beach State 10, #9 Michigan 9
Records: U-M (9-6), Long Beach State (9-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 24 -- vs. LIU - Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Irvine, Calif.), 8 a.m. PST

IRVINE, Calif. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan water polo team got a team-leading three goals from Ava Morrant but fell 10-9 to No. 7 Long Beach State to open the the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Friday (Feb. 24) at the Anteater Aquatic Complex.

Long Beach State got on the board first in the first quarter taking advantage of a Michigan exclusion. With 20 seconds left in the quarter, the Beach netted their second goal. Long Beach State scored the first goal in the second quarter just a minute and a half in, going up 3-0.

One minute later, Erin Neustrom found the back of the goal on the power play. Long Beach State netted another goal to pull to a 4-1 lead, but Michigan scored three consecutive goals -- two by Morrant and one by Kata Utassy -- to knot the game at 4 heading into the half.

The Beach scored first in the second half as well before Utassy tallied her second goal of the game tie the game at 5. Long Beach State scored a pair of goals to take a 7-5 lead before Lola Ciruli pulled Michigan back within one with two minutes to go in the third quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, Elise Walker dented the twine to tie the game at 7 with 4:52 left to play in regulation. Morrant scored her third of the game, earning a hat trick to deadlock the game at eight apiece. Long Beach State posted back-to-back tallies to pull to a 10-8 lead with 1:30 left on the clock. Neustrom was able to score one more goal for the Wolverines to pull within one, but Michigan could not find the equalizer.

Alex Brown recorded 10 saves between the pipes for the Wolverines.

Michigan will be back in action on Saturday (Feb.25) against Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 8 a.m. PST on the second day of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at the Anteater Aquatic Complex.