U-M's Record-Breaking Game Secures Third at CWPA Championship

Sunday, April 30

Princeton, N.J.

10:00 AM

Michigan

23-10

Saint Francis

13-23-1

St. Francis (PA)

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

U-M's Record-Breaking Game Secures Third at CWPA Championship

4/30/2023 12:26:00 PM | Water Polo

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By: Bridgette Underwood

» Michigan finished its season with a 16-6 win over Saint Francis for a third-place finish at the CWPA Championship.
» Kata Utassy broke the record for the most goals scored by a junior (83) and the most points in a single season (143).
» Libby Alsemgeest now holds the most drawn exclusions in a season with 80 and Alex Brown now holds the most saves by a senior with 327.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The ninth-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated Saint Francis, 16-6, on Sunday (April 30) at DeNunzio Pool to claim third place at the CWPA Championship. This is the first time since 2014 that the Maize and Blue have finished its season with a win.

Four school records were broken as Kata Utassy broke the record for the most goals scored by a junior (83) and the most points in a single season (143). Libby Alsemgeest now holds the most drawn exclusions in a season with 80 and Alex Brown now holds the most saves by a senior with 327.

Utassy led the Maize and Blue once against offensively with five goals and one assists for six points. Defensively, Brown held it down between the pipes with 12 saves, and tacked on two steals and one assist.

Utassy got the Wolverines rolling with a penalty goal just 19 seconds into the game. Alsemgeest fired a shot from the two-meter line to find the back of the net before Utassy tacked on another goal. In a counterattack, Issy Jackson pulled up and snuck one past the goalie to make it 4-0. The Red Flash put one in the back of the net before Sammi Monroe ended the first quarter with a shot past the keeper, putting Michigan up 5-1.

Utassy scored her second hat trick of the tournament, skipping the ball past a few defenders and the keeper. Utassy and Grace Harbaugh each found the back of the net, and Sophie Tovani scored back-to-back goals to end the quarter -- giving U-M a 10-2 advantage over the Red Flash.

Saint Francis pulled off to a fast start in the third, scoring back-to-back times before Lola Ciruli dented the twine. The Red Flash snuck in one more goal before Ciruli netted another with two minutes left in the third.

In the final quarter of play, Utassy scored her fifth of the game and 11th of the tournament, while Fiona Young, Jess Henningsen and Erin Neustrom each tacked on one to secure the U-M win.