Michigan Rides Early Lead to Victory Over Concordia

Tuesday, March 3

Irvine, Calif.

11:00 AM PT

Michigan

12-7

Concordia

8-7

Michigan

Concordia

Ryland Smith (Michigan Photography)

3/3/2026 5:46:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kaylie Karsch

IRVINE, Calif. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan water polo team scored 10 first-half goals and never looked back in a 15-9 win over Concordia University Irvine on Tuesday (March 3) at the William Woollett Aquatic Center.

Offensively, the Wolverines (12-7) were led by Ari Karampetsou, who totaled four goals, and the freshman duo of Ryland Smith and Bailee Swindells, who each posted hat tricks.

Concordia (8-7) scored a pair of early goals before U-M regrouped. Kaia Levenfeld and Karampetsou found the back of the net on power plays to knot the score at two, and the trio of Emma Gustafsson, Swindells and Lulu Hirschfield scored to put the Wolverines ahead 5-2 after one quarter. Harriet Dickens also had back-to-back assists in the first.

It was more of the same in the second quarter, as Michigan again outscored Concordia 5-2 to take a 10-4 lead into halftime. Karampetsou scored three times, including the first two U-M goals, in the second, while Smith and Issy Jackson (power play) also landed on the scoresheet.

Levenfeld got the Wolverines started in the third period with a goal and, after Concordia scored back-to-back goals to U-M's advantage to 11-6, Michigan got goals from Swindells and Smith to push the lead back to seven. CUI scored a last-minute goal, and the teams headed into the fourth quarter holding a 13-7 lead.

Smith and Swindell provided the Maize and Blue offense in the fourth, with Smith's tally coming on a penalty shot. Concordia scored twice but was unable to overcome the Wolverines' first-half output.

Sophia Bunnell made eight saves in the day, while Smith added an assist for a four-point game and Karampetsou also contributed four points.

The Wolverines will continue their West Coast trip, competing against UC Davis at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday (March 4) at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.