Michigan Comes Up Short in Battle with No. 5 California
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan water polo team battled but ultimately fell to No. 5 California, 14-10, on Sunday (March 30) at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Brooke Ingram and Ari Karampetsou paced Michigan (14-8) offensively, each recording a hat trick, while captain Ashley O'Neill found the back of the net twice.
U-M struggled to find its footing in the opening quarter, as the team was held scoreless. Meanwhile, California (15-3) capitalized with four unanswered goals in the first eight minutes of play.
The Wolverines responded in the second frame, netting four goals to stay within reach. Ingram broke through at 6:44 to put U-M on the board, followed by back-to-back strikes from O'Neill. Ingram then added her second of the game to send Michigan into halftime trailing 8-4.
Coming out of the break, Emma Gustafsson converted on a power play to pull the Wolverines within three. However, the Golden Bears answered with three consecutive goals before Issy Jackson stopped the run, making it an 11-6 contest heading into the final quarter.
The fourth belonged to Karampetsou, who rattled off three goals in four minutes to complete her hat trick. Michigan's defense tightened down the stretch, holding California to just two goals in the final frame. Ingram capped off her hat trick with Michigan's last goal of the day, but the late surge wasn't enough to overcome the 14-10 deficit.
The Maize and Blue return to action on Saturday (April 5), hosting the Conference Crossover at Canham Natatorium. U-M will face Mercyhurst at 1:30 p.m. before a primetime matchup against Princeton at 6 p.m.
