U-M Splits Opening Day of Michigan Invitational vs. Toronto, No. 8 Long Beach State

Saturday, March 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

Michigan

15-7

Toronto

21-16

Toronto

Michigan

Alexx Brown (Michigan Photography)

U-M Splits Opening Day of Michigan Invitational vs. Toronto, No. 8 Long Beach State

3/23/2024 8:03:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Boxscore (Toronto)PDF Boxscore (Long Beach State)Photo Gallery

By: Alex Whisnant

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Canham Natatorium)
Event: Michigan Invitational (Day 1 of 2)
Scores: #9 Michigan 14, Toronto 3; #8 Long Beach State 12, #9 Michigan 9
Records: U-M (15-8), Toronto (21-15), LBSU (15-6)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 24 -- vs. Bucknell/UC Merced - Michigan Invitational, Day Two (Canham Natatorium), 9 a.m./3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No.9-ranked University of Michigan water polo team split a pair of games on the first day of the Michigan Invitational on Saturday (March 23) at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines took care of Toronto 14-3 but dropped a tough, physical 12-9 battle with No. 8 Long Beach State.

Emma Gustafsson led U-M offensively in the opening game, scoring four points (three goals, one assist). Two other notable performances contributed to the Wolverines' opening victory, including Jillian Schlom, who scored two goals for the Maize and Blue. Kasey Umlauf also racked up two goals in addition to pacing the Wolverines on the defensive end, swiping two steals in the winning performance. Michigan locked down defensively in the second half as Toronto looked to put more points on the board.

Grace Walsh came up big against Toronto, registering 11 saves and capping the visitors at three goals.

The first period sparked the Wolverines with Lola Ciruli finding the back of the net just under a minute into the game shortly after her first sprint possession win. Michigan maintained its immediate momentum throughout the first half, tallying nine goals while holding Toronto to only one. Seven different Wolverines found paydirt in the opening half, paced by Schlom, who scored two in the initial 16 minutes of play. The second frame saw five more goals by the Maize and Blue alongside a lockdown defensive effort, holding Toronto to two goals in the commanding 14-3 win.

It was a tense back-and-forth affair in Michigan's second game of the day against Long Beach State, with the 49ers coming out on top, 12-9.

Issy Jackson and Kaia Levenfeld highlighted the U-M offense with two goals each. Sammi Monroe dished out three assists while Ashley O'Neill tallied two helpers of her own. In her first appearance of the day, Alex Brown tallied 16 saves in 32 minutes of action, doing everything in her power to keep Michigan in striking range in the top-10 matchup.

The offense came quickly as both teams found the back of the net before the six-minute mark of the opening period. LBSU found some breathing room with a pair of goals gave the visitors a 3-1 edge after one quarter.

Another Long Beach goal pushed the Beach to a 4-1 lead before Jackson answered with her first of the day to make it 4-2 at 6:14 in the second. LBSU quickly restored its three-goal lead less than a minute later. Levenfeld and Elise Walker scored to provide a mini 2-0 run to bring the Wolverines within one, 5-4, but LBSU beat the buzzer with a goal to make the halftime score 6-4.

The Beach took control of the matchup in the third quarter with two goals in the first three minutes of the frame to push the lead back to three, 8-5. Lulu Hirschfield got on the board to inch U-M closer, but LBSU answered with two more to make it 10-6 with 3:55 to go in the period. Alison Lock and Jackson each put one past the goalie to get Michigan back within two, but Long Beach State hung tough with a goal at 2:05 in the third to make it 11-8 heading to the final eight minutes.

Mariah Walker's third goal of the contest put the game away for Long Beach State at 7:22 in the fourth quarter. Brooke Ingram scored at 4:54, but the Long Beach defense stood tall as the No. 8 team in the country came away with a 12-9 win.

The Wolverines will wrap up the Michigan Invitational on Sunday (March 24) when they take on Bucknell at 9 a.m. and UC Merced at 3 p.m. inside Canham Natatorium.