U-M Knocks Off Host Harvard to Advance to CWPA Championship Final

Saturday, April 27

Boston, Mass.

Noon

Michigan

21-10

Harvard

13-13

Michigan

Harvard

(Michigan Photography)

U-M Knocks Off Host Harvard to Advance to CWPA Championship Final

4/27/2024 4:43:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Alex Whisnant

Site: Cambridge, Mass. (Blodgett Pool)
Event: CWPA Championship (Semifinals)
Scores: #13 Michigan 12, #20 Harvard 7
Records: U-M (21-10), Harvard (13-13)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 28 -- vs. #11 Princeton or #24 Brown - CWPA Championship Final (Cambridge, Mass.), Noon

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan water polo team got its CWPA Championship run off to a winning start on Saturday (April 27), downing No. 20-ranked Harvard 12-7 in its home pool, Blodgette Pool, to advance to the CWPA Championship Final on Sunday (April 28) at noon.

After a one-game absence, Kata Utassy made her presence felt at the offensive end with three first-half tallies to lead the Maize and Blue. Fellow senior Sammi Monroe found the back of the net twice. Seven other Wolverines added a tally apiece to bolster the attack. In goal, Alex Brown notched eight saves and kept the Crimson to one goal each in the first and fourth quarters.

Michigan (21-10) fell behind early with a Harvard (13-13) goal on a penalty at 4:02 in the first. Monroe and Brooke Ingram righted the ship with a goal each to vault the Wolverines in front 2-1 with 2:26 to go. Utassy beat the goalie on a penalty shot to push the advantage to 3-1 heading to the second period.

Utassy started the second with her second tally of the contest before the Crimson scored its second goal to make it 4-2 in favor of Michigan with 6:21 remaining in the frame. Emma Gustafsson took advantage of the 6-on-5 opportunity to put Michigan up three, 5-2, at 4:07. Less than two minutes later, Utassy completed her hat trick before Monroe scored her second of the game as Michigan soared to a 7-2 lead. The two teams each scored one more in the final minute of the half to make the score 8-3.

Harvard battled back and outscored the Wolverines 3-2 in the third with Libby Alsemgeest and Sophia Panossian representing the U-M's offense in the frame. Michigan's defense put the clamps on Harvard in the fourth, allowing one goal in eight minutes as the offense found paydirt twice secure a 12-7 semifinal win.

With the victory, Michigan will face the winner of the second semifinal game between No. 11 Princeton and No. 24 Brown on Sunday (April 28) at noon.