2023 Michigan Water Polo Awards and Honors
4/5/2023 12:00:00 PM | Water Polo
• Neustrom, Utassy Earn ACWPC All-America Honors (6/1/23)
Kata Utassy, Alex Brown (April 18)
CWPA Player of the Week -- Kata Utassy has been named the CWPA Player of the Week for the third consecutive week and fifth of the season. On Saturday (April 15), she opened the weekend with three points (two goals, one assist) against No. 6 Princeton and another three points against No. 20 Brown (2A, 1G) in a pair of Michigan wins on Saturday (April 15). On Sunday (April 16), she went for eight points on six goals and a pair of assists as U=M downed No. 14 Harvard 15-8.
CWPA Defensive Player of the Week -- Alex Brown earned her fourth CWPA Defensive Player of the Week honor after recording 34 saves over two and a half games. In the Wolverines' win over Princeton and Harvard, Brown recorded 12 saves each game. Brown only played the first half against No. 20 Brown, but she came up with 10 saves and allowed only one goal int he first half.
Kata Utassy (April 12)
CWPA Player of the Week -- Kata Utassy contributed three goals and three assists to factor in two-thirds of Michigan's scoring during a 9-8 victory at No. 17 Indiana on Saturday (April 8). Utassy earned her fourth Player of the Week nod of the season (Jan. 16, Jan. 23, April 3). The victory over the Hoosiers marked the program's 12th consecutive defeat of Indiana dating back to April 2015.
Kata Utassy (April 6)
CWPA Player of the Week -- For the third time this season, Kata Utassy has been named the CWPA Player of the Week. Last weekend, she collected six goals, nine assists and 15 points in three games. In Michigan's win over No. 21 Brown (April 1), she collected her 100th point of the season in 25 games, the fewest in program history to reach the milestone. Utassy also was tabbed CWPA Player of the Week on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23.
Erin Neustrom and Kata Utassy (April 5)
Cutino Award Watch List -- Erin Neustrom and Kata Utassy are two of the 20 student-athletes that have been named to the Cutino Award watch list for an outstanding start to the 2023 season.
Utassy leads the Wolverines in goals (60), assists (47) and points (107), and is second in steals with 35 on the season. Last weekend in the win against Brown, Utassy recorded her 100th point in her 25th game of the season, making her the fastest in program history to reach 100 points in a season. Neustrom has appeared in every game this season and has locked down the defense with 43 drawn exclusions. Not only is she a threat on defense, but offensively she has recorded 44 points with 37 goals and seven assists while collecting 17 steals.
The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo. Finalists for the Cutino Award will be announced following the completion of the women's season.
Alex Brown (March 8)
CWPA Defensive Player of the Week -- Alex Brown picked up her third Defensive Player of the Week honor this season and sixth overall. She recorded 30 saves and four steals in Michigan's 4-0 weekend at the Wolverine Invitational. Against No. 20 San Jose State, Brown collected 14 saves and recorded a save percentage of .778.
Riley Chapple (Feb. 16)
CWPA Player of the Week -- For the first time in her career, Riley Chapple was named CWPA Player of the Week with five goals and 12 assists for 17 points to help Michigan to a 3-0 weekend at the Bucknell Invite. She recorded three goals in wins against Saint Francis along with eight assists to tally 11 points -- both of which are the most by a Michigan player so far this year. CWPA Release
Kata Utassy, Alex Brown, Brooke Ingram (Jan. 23)
CWPA Player of the Week -- Kata Utassy was named the CWPA Player of the Week for the second week in a row after recording nine goals, two assists, three steals and a drawn exclusion for the No. 7-ranked Wolverines during the 2023 Fresno State Bulldog Fest. Utassy was also a three-time CWPA Division I Rookie of the Week selection during the 2021 season. » CWPA Release
CWPA Defensive Player of the Week -- Alex Brown made 36 saves with a pair of steals over the span of three games at the 2023 Fresno State Bulldog Fest including 17 in the win against No. 8-ranked Fresno State. Including last week's honor, Brown is a five-time Defensive Player of the Week selection with previous recognitions in 2021 and twice in 2022. » CWPA Release
CWPA Rookie of the Week -- Brooke Ingram earned her second-consecutive Rookie of the Week honor after her performance against No. 8 Fresno state, where she netted two goals in the 13-9 win. » CWPA Release
Kata Utassy, Alex Brown, Brooke Ingram (Jan. 16)
CWPA Player of the Week -- Kata Utassy earned her first Player of the Week nod after aiding the Maize and Blue in downing Biola, California Baptist, Azusa Pacific and host No. 10 Arizona State as Michigan swept the ASU Cross Conference Challenge to open the season 4-0. Utassy recorded 13 goals -- including five against Azusa Pacific and four against ASU -- seven steals and five assists over the weekend. » CWPA Release
CWPA Defensive Player of the Week -- Alex Brown earned her first CWPA Defensive Player of the Week of the season and and fourth of her career after a dominating performance at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge. Brown recorded 43 saves, including 14 in a shutout of Biola in the season opener. Against No. 10 Arizona State, she came up with 10 saves to help the Maize and Blue secure and 11-10 overtime win. » CWPA Release
CWPA Rookie of the Week -- Brooke Ingram earned her first CWPA Rookie of the Week honor after contributing two goals and a steal during a season-opening 4-0 weekend by the Wolverines at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge. Ingram recorded her first collegiate goal against Biola and tacked on a goal and a steal versus Azusa Pacific. » CWPA Release
