U-M Downs Bucknell in CWPA Road Test

Friday, April 5

Lewisburg, Pa.

4:30 PM

Michigan

18-8, 4-1

Bucknell

5-17, 1-6

Michigan

Bucknell

Emma Gustafsson (Michigan Photography)

4/5/2024 6:30:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score

By: Alex Whisnant

Site: Lewisburg, Pa. (Kinney Natatorium)
Scores: #11 Michigan 13, Bucknell 7
Records: U-M (18-8, 4-1 CWPA), Bucknell (5-17, 1-6 CWPA)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 6 -- vs. No. 15 Princeton (Lewisburg, Pa.), 11:00 a.m.

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team got its weekend off to a strong start with a 13-7 win over the Bucknell Bison on Friday (April 5) at Kinney Natatorium, its first true road victory of the 2024 season.

Much of the offense was provided by Emma Gustafsson and Kasey Umlauf. Gustafsson tallied a career-high five goals while Umlauf established herself in the middle of the pool and notched a hat-trick. Kata Utassy registered yet another multi-goal outing with two scores. Issy Jackson, Sammi Monroe and Elise Walker rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece.

Alex Brown and Grace Walsh both saw time in net and combined to allow only seven goals, including two in the entire first half.

The first quarter was a tense, back-and-forth affair with Utassy opening the scoring at the 5:25 mark of the period. The Bison (5-17, 1-6 CWPA) responded with a score less than two minutes later before Monroe grabbed the lead back for Michigan (18-8, 4-1 CWPA) a few moments after. Bucknell tied it once more at 1:53 in the first, and Walker provided another Wolverine retort to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Maize and Blue after eight minutes.

U-M gained control of the conference matchup in the second by scoring four unanswered in the period. Umlauf scored two in the quarter while Gustafsson and Utassy added a tally to take a 7-2 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was a defensive battle with three combined goals among the two squads. Bucknell scored twice while Gustafsson scored her second of the contest to make the league tilt a little tighter, 8-4, with one quarter remaining.

The Michigan offense exploded in the final frame with five total goals. Gustafsson took over with three goals in the fourth quarter alone while Jackson and Umlauf provided the offensive support to help the Wolverines secure their 18th win of the season, 13-7.

Michigan will return to Kinney Natatorium on Saturday (April 6) for two games starting with a matchup against 15th-ranked Princeton at 11 a.m. and following with a contest against 18th-ranked Harvard at 6 p.m.