Michigan
1-6
Cal State Fullerton
5-3
Wolverines Collect First Two Wins of Season on Day Two of Triton Invite
1/31/2026 11:59:00 PM | Water Polo
LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan water polo team defeated Cal State Fullerton 18-8 at the Canyonview Aquatic Center and Concordia University Irvine 21-8 at Triton Pool on Saturday (Jan. 31) on the second day of the Triton Invitational. The wins were the first of the season for the Wolverines.
Senior Maddy Scarth totaled eight goals on the day, while she notched three assists for 11 points. Emilia Mladjan also contributed to the Maize and Blue's success, scoring five goals.
No. 18 Michigan 18, Cal State Fullerton 8
Michigan (2-6) opened the day against Cal State Fullerton (5-3), keeping the game tight in the first half, trading goals with the Titans throughout. The half was highlighted by Ari Karampetsou, who scored a goal in both the first and second periods.
The Wolverines dominated the second half, scoring 11 goals, their most in any half this year. Scarth posted three goals in the third quarter, two of which were assisted by Karampetsou and Issy Jackson. In addition, the third quarter was defensively the strongest for the Wolverines, as they held Cal State Fullerton to just one goal.
In the fourth, freshman Ryland Smith scored three of the Wolverines' five goals, all within the first four minutes, and helped secure U-M's first win of 2026.
No. 18 Michigan 21, Concordia University Irvine 8
In the second match, the Wolverines started on a 4-0 run and were able to keep a steady lead throughout all four frames. After a short comeback by the Golden Eagles, the Wolverines went into the second half with a five-goal lead after back-to-back goals from Jordan Schneider and Karampetsou.
After exchanging goals throughout the third, U-M pulled away in the fourth quarter with lockdown defense, holding Concordia to just two goals in the final frame. Among a plethora of U-M goals, freshman Bailee Swindells found the back of the net twice in the fourth to help Michigan win back-to-back games.
The Wolverines will wrap up their stay at the Triton Invite on Sunday (Feb. 1) at 1 p.m. PT, when they take on UC Davis in the tournament's ninth-place game at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.
Team Stats
Riley Chapple
6:54
Hannah Reekstin
6:11
Emilia Mladjan
5:53
Hannah Reekstin
5:30
Ari Karampetsou
4:59
Lulu Hirschfield
4:07
Kenzie Searle
2:53
Bailee Swindells
1:38
Maddy Scarth
7:34
Emme Doube-MacLeod
5:45
Ari Karampetsou
5:10
Kenzie Searle
3:51
Ryland Smith
3:19
Abby Schulz
2:32
Lotte Boxsem
2:04
Claire Eusey
5:06
Maddy Scarth
3:44
Maddy Scarth
1:43
Maddy Scarth
0:55
Sofia Moschetti
0:23
Ryland Smith
7:31
Delaney Latham
6:10
Ryland Smith
5:47
Ryland Smith
4:19
Bailee Swindells
3:42
Maddy Scarth
1:55
