U-M Falls to No. 5 Hawai'i in OT, Host No. 9 Fresno State on Day One at Polo-Palooza

Saturday, January 20

Fresno, Calif.

9:30 AM PT

Michigan

0-1, 0-0

Hawaii

1-0, 0-0

Michigan

Hawai'i

Kata Utassy (Michigan Photography)

U-M Falls to No. 5 Hawai'i in OT, Host No. 9 Fresno State on Day One at Polo-Palooza

1/20/2024 8:11:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Boxscore (Hawai'i)PDF Boxscore (Fresno State)

By: Alex Whisnant

Site: Fresno, Calif. (Fresno State Aquatic Center)
Event: Polo-Palooza (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #5 Hawai'i 14, #13 Michigan 11 (OT); #9 Fresno State 11, #13 Michigan 10
Records: U-M (0-2), Hawai'i (1-0), Fresno State (1-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 21 -- vs. #4 California - Polo-Palooza, Day Two (Fresno, Calif.), 8 a.m. PST

FRESNO, Calif. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan water polo team battled in a pair of highly competitive games, but came up short against No. 5 Hawai'i 14-11 in overtime and No. 9 Fresno State 11-10 on the first day at Polo-Palooza on Saturday (Jan. 20) at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.

Kata Utassy shined on the offensive end of the pool in the opening game, tallying eight points (six goals, two assists). Three Wolverines logged two-point games, including freshmen Emma Gustafsson and Sophia Panossian, who each scored once and dished out one assist in their Michigan debuts. In goal, graduate student Alex Brown racked up 17 saves and added two steals while playing all 38 minutes.

After Hawai'i opened the scoring early in the first, Michigan responded with a 4-0 run that crossed into the second frame as Elise Walker, Panossian, Utassy and Libby Alsemgeest all found the back of the net to vault the Maize and Blue into a 4-1 lead. The two squads each added a goal in the waning minutes of the second quarter to make the halftime score 5-2 in favor of the Wolverines.

The Rainbow Wahine scored twice in the first two minutes of the second stanza to cut U-M's lead to one, 5-4. Utassy tickled the twine for the second time to make the score 6-4 with 5:42 to go in the third. Hawai'i scored two in a row to tie the score at six. Both teams added one more goal to send the game into the fourth quarter tied at seven.

Hawai'i briefly snatched the lead in the initial stages of the final quarter of regulation before Utassy and Gustafsson combined for three goals to restore the lead for Michigan, 10-8, with 3:44 left in the fourth. After a quick two-goal run by Hawai'i tied the score at 10, Utassy converted a penalty shot to take a late lead in the fourth. The lead would not stand as Hawai'i scored with 24 seconds left to send the season opener into overtime tied at 11.

Hawai'i gained control of the game in the extra periods, scoring three times to secure the 14-11 win.

In game two, Utassy led the way once again on offense, notching her second hat trick in as many games and adding an assist for four points. Alsemgeest, Sammi Monroe and Walker each scored twice.

Fresno State grabbed the momentum right away, scoring the first four goals of the contest to jump out in front. Utassy scored in the final minutes of the period to make the score 4-1 in favor of the Bulldogs after eight minutes of play.

Propelled by Alsemgeest's two scores, the Wolverine offense woke up in the second quarter with four goals. Fresno State was able to match that total and went into halftime with an 8-5 lead.

The defense tightened up in the second half, particularly the third quarter where only three total goals were scored. For the Maize and Blue, Lola Ciruli found the back of the cage for the first time this year, and Utassy converted on a power-play chance with seconds to go in the quarter. After three quarters of play, Fresno State maintained a 9-7 lead.

Michigan drew within one twice in the fourth quarter but was unable to find the equalizer and fell to the Bulldogs 11-10.

The Wolverines will wrap up Polo-Palooza on Sunday (Jan. 21) when they take on No. 4-ranked California at 8 a.m. PST at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.