#17 Michigan 13, Sonoma State 6

(Written by Gian D'Ambra, SSU Sports Information Student Assistant)

ROHNERT PARK -- The 17th-ranked Wolverines of Michigan came to Sonoma State to take on the women's water polo team, and after a hard-fought first three quarters, the Wolverines pulled away in the fourth and won 13-6 over the Seawolves.
    
Lexii Morabito scored to tie the game at 1-1 with 4:19 remaining in the first quarter. With just over two minutes left in the quarter, the Wolverines retook the lead at 2-1, a lead they would never relinquish.
    
Scoring was even in the second quarter as each team netted just one goal each. Noelle Herrera put in her only goal of the game and cut the Wolverine lead to 4-2 with 1:29 remaining in the first half. The half would end with that same score, giving the Seawolves a great chance to pull off the upset in the second half.
    
Just over a minute and a half into the third quarter the Wolverines extended their lead to 5-2. The Seawolves answered with back-to-back goals to pull within one at 5-4 with 2:55 left in the quarter. Ellen Peterson and Caitlin Risden were responsible for the two goals in that time. Michigan halted the Seawolf run right there and started a run of their own that would last the rest of the game.
    
After the lead was cut to 5-4 the Wolverines used an 8-2 run over the last 9:40 of the game to put the Seawolves away. Carleigh Robinson netted the final Seawolf goal of the third quarter, that ended in favor of Michigan at 8-5. Nicole Browning added a goal of her own in the fourth quarter, the last Seawolf goal of the game. Browning's sister, Emily Browning was the Michigan goalie at the time of her goal. Emily's team got the upper hand in this one, though, beating Sonoma State 13-6.
    
Andrea Mallul, Sonoma State's goalie, saved 50 percent of the shots that came her way, allowing 13 goals on 26 Wolverine attempts.
    
With the loss, Sonoma State falls to 7-18 overall. The Seawolves next match is Friday at the Dr. G. Edward Rudloff Pool on the campus of Sonoma State. Their opponent will be Cal State East Bay; first sprint is scheduled for 2:30 pm.