Michigan
UC Davis
Michigan Battles Way Past No. 9 UC Davis
3/18/2023 5:48:00 PM | Water Polo
» Kata Utassy led the offense with three goals and three assists for six points.
» Elise Walker led the way for Michigan with four goals.
» Alex Brown made eight saves in the win.
Site: Davis, Calif. (Schaal Aquatics Center)
Score: #11 Michigan 13, #9 UC Davis 10
Records: U-M (16-7), UC Davis (13-9)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 19 -- at Pacific (Stockton, Calif.), 11 a.m. PDT
IRVINE, Calif. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team (9-6) defeated No. 11 UC Davis 13-10Â on Saturday (March 18) behind a stellar offense and shutdown defense at the Schaal Aquatics Center.
Kata Utassy led the offense with three goals and three assists for six points while Elise Walker led the Wolverines with four goals. On the defensive side, Alex Brown made eight saves in the victory.
The Maize and Blue came storming out of the gate with Walker finding the back of the net early, just 25 seconds into the quarter, with an assist from Lola Ciruli. Erin Neustrom was able to draw a penalty, giving Utassy a chance to extend the lead early. Utassy fired a penalty shot, beating the goalie, and giving Michigan an early 2-0 lead. UC Davis fired back with a goal of its own before Neustrom skipped the ball to the back of the net. Walker and Libby Alsemgeest each chipped one more goal in the first, while the Aggies found the back of the net two more times in the first quarter of play to send Michigan into the second quarter with a 5-3 lead.
Starting off the second quarter, Ciruli added a tally to the score sheet with a bullet past the goalie to give Michigan a 6-3 advantage just 14 seconds into the period. Thirty seconds later, the Aggies picked up another goal, but Utassy fired a shot from three meters out just 15 seconds later to pull U-M back to a three-goal lead, 7-4. Sammi Monroe scored a goal sandwiched between UC Davis goals, and the Wolverines headed into the halftime break leading 8-6.
Walker scored 55 seconds into the third quarter to earn a hat trick, while Utassy recorded one of her own on a shot that ricocheted off the post and into the goal. The Aggies added a goal between the Wolverines' tallies and U-M led 10-7.
After the remainder of the third period went scoreless, the offense picked up in the fourth. UC Davis scored a goal with 7:38 left in regulation, but Walker recorded her fourth goal to push the U-M lead to 11-8. The Aggies scored back-to-back goals to draw to within one, 11-10, but Alsemgeest picked up her second goal and Issy Jackson added an insurance goal to put the game away.
Michigan will be back in action on Sunday (March 19) at 10 a.m. PDT when they take on No. 15 Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
