Fresno State Athletics
Friday, January 16
Fresno, CA
6:30 p.m. PT
Fresno State
0-0, 0-0
11
vs
9
No. 15 Michigan
0-0, 0-0
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan
1
3
2
3
9
Fresno State
3
3
4
1
11
Team Stats
UM
FS
Shots
25
32
Goals
9
11
Assists
4
6
Points
13
17
Exclusions
7
10
Steals
4
12
Sprints
2
2
1
Abby Schulz
7:20
Hailey Andress
6:13
Marit van der Kolk
4:14
Riaan Bryant
1:41
2
Susanna Martinez
7:19
Brooke Ingram
6:12
Emilia Mladjan
5:22
Issy Jackson
4:32
Kira Anderson
4:21
Caitlyn Mossman
1:31
3
Emma Gustafsson
7:08
Katya Aleshina
6:02
Georgia Daly
4:39
Harriet Dickens
4:12
Hailey Andress
1:13
Hailey Andress
0:26
4
Issy Jackson
4:51
Brooke Ingram
3:18
Charley Stephens
1:53
Ari Karampetsou
0:51
Game Leaders
Shots
7
Goals
3
Assists
0
Points
3
Shots
4
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Shots
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Shots
3
Goals
1
Assists
1
Points
2
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Utility
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Center
/ Water Polo
Utility
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water Polo
Center
/ Water PoloAttacker
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
New faces debut as ‘Dogs defeat Wolverines in season opener
1/16/2026 10:22:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 7 Fresno State water polo team opened the 2026 season with an 11-9 victory over No. 15 Michigan at the Aquatics Center on Friday evening, kicking off the annual Polopalooza tournament. The Friday Night Lights shined through the dense fog that fell into the Bulldogs' home venue, creating a dramatic feel for opening night.
"I'm really pleased with the team," said head coach Natalie Benson. "Winning at this level is difficult to do. Any game is hard, especially against a really talented team like Michigan. That's a good team. They've got a lot of great weapons, some good perimeter shooters, a goalie who had a great game. I thought the girls did a great job defensively, and the merging of the older players and younger players."
The Bulldogs started true freshman Katelyn Mobley in goal. Mobley played 24 minutes while grabbing eight saves and two steals against a powerful offensive attack in Michigan. Islay Martin-Hill played the remaining eight minutes, grabbing one steal.
Mobley was joined by a plethora of other first-time Bulldogs who saw the pool on Friday, including Riaan Bryant, Charley Stephens, Charli Muñoz, Georgia Daly and Katya Aleshina.
Four newcomers scored goals in a balanced attack for Fresno State. Bryant, Stephens, Daly and Aleshina netted their first career goals on Friday. Senior Hailey Andress led the 'Dogs in scoring with three goals on opening night. Marit van der Kolk, Caitlyn Mossman, Susanna Martinez and Kira Anderson rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece.
"Every game, this team is going to get better, they're gonna keep meshing," added Benson. "We are going to keep learning about them, too, and what they do well and what role they fill."
How it happened
Michigan struck first with a 6-on-5 opportunity goal in the first minute. Andress evened the score with a penalty goal shortly after. With some shot attempts exchanged by both teams, van der Kolk converted with the assist from Martinez to take the lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter. Following another Michigan wide shot attempt, Bryant netted her first collegiate goal with 1:41 left in the opening period. Anderson grabbed a steal late in the quarter, but the final shot attempt by Stephens sailed past the cage and Fresno State led 3-1 at the end of the first.
The Bulldogs got the scoring started in the second after a steal by Muñoz, followed by Alice Johnson setting up the goal by Martinez. A Bulldog exclusion would lead to a Michigan timeout, and the Wolverines drew up a 6-on-5 play that was executed by Brooke Ingram to cut the Bulldog scoring run and make it a two-goal game again. Michigan scored two more back-to-back and tied the game at four with 4:32 before halftime. Anderson and Mossman scored to end the period and give the Bulldogs a buffer into halftime.
Fresno State's offensive adjustments proved in the third quarter, scoring four goals. Michigan scored first, this time on a penalty shot in the first minute of play. Aleshina drew the exclusion and capitalized by scoring her first career goal with 6:02 left in the third. Following two missed shots by the Bulldogs, Sidney Strickland found Daly in center who found the back of the net to put the Bulldogs up 8-5with 4:39 remaining. Michigan capitalized on another powerplay chance before Andress got hot for two-straight goals to end the period. Fresno State led 10-6 at the end of the third.
Michigan scored the first two goals of the final quarter, cutting the deficit to two with 3:18 to play. Stephens ended the run with the assist from Bryant with just under two minutes left to play. After a Fresno State offensive foul and turnover, Michigan called a quick timeout and again executed the play on its next possession, cutting the Bulldog lead to two with 51 seconds remaining. Fresno State didn't do anything with its final offensive possession, focusing on the defensive in the final seconds. Michigan got a shot off that was knocked down by Bryant before reaching the cage.
Up Next
Polopalooza continues tomorrow. Fresno State takes on No. 10 Indiana at 11 a.m. PT and No. 8 UC Irvine at 5 p.m. PT. More information and the complete Polopalooza schedule can be found on the tournament central.
"I'm really pleased with the team," said head coach Natalie Benson. "Winning at this level is difficult to do. Any game is hard, especially against a really talented team like Michigan. That's a good team. They've got a lot of great weapons, some good perimeter shooters, a goalie who had a great game. I thought the girls did a great job defensively, and the merging of the older players and younger players."
The Bulldogs started true freshman Katelyn Mobley in goal. Mobley played 24 minutes while grabbing eight saves and two steals against a powerful offensive attack in Michigan. Islay Martin-Hill played the remaining eight minutes, grabbing one steal.
Mobley was joined by a plethora of other first-time Bulldogs who saw the pool on Friday, including Riaan Bryant, Charley Stephens, Charli Muñoz, Georgia Daly and Katya Aleshina.
Four newcomers scored goals in a balanced attack for Fresno State. Bryant, Stephens, Daly and Aleshina netted their first career goals on Friday. Senior Hailey Andress led the 'Dogs in scoring with three goals on opening night. Marit van der Kolk, Caitlyn Mossman, Susanna Martinez and Kira Anderson rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece.
"Every game, this team is going to get better, they're gonna keep meshing," added Benson. "We are going to keep learning about them, too, and what they do well and what role they fill."
How it happened
Michigan struck first with a 6-on-5 opportunity goal in the first minute. Andress evened the score with a penalty goal shortly after. With some shot attempts exchanged by both teams, van der Kolk converted with the assist from Martinez to take the lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter. Following another Michigan wide shot attempt, Bryant netted her first collegiate goal with 1:41 left in the opening period. Anderson grabbed a steal late in the quarter, but the final shot attempt by Stephens sailed past the cage and Fresno State led 3-1 at the end of the first.
The Bulldogs got the scoring started in the second after a steal by Muñoz, followed by Alice Johnson setting up the goal by Martinez. A Bulldog exclusion would lead to a Michigan timeout, and the Wolverines drew up a 6-on-5 play that was executed by Brooke Ingram to cut the Bulldog scoring run and make it a two-goal game again. Michigan scored two more back-to-back and tied the game at four with 4:32 before halftime. Anderson and Mossman scored to end the period and give the Bulldogs a buffer into halftime.
Fresno State's offensive adjustments proved in the third quarter, scoring four goals. Michigan scored first, this time on a penalty shot in the first minute of play. Aleshina drew the exclusion and capitalized by scoring her first career goal with 6:02 left in the third. Following two missed shots by the Bulldogs, Sidney Strickland found Daly in center who found the back of the net to put the Bulldogs up 8-5with 4:39 remaining. Michigan capitalized on another powerplay chance before Andress got hot for two-straight goals to end the period. Fresno State led 10-6 at the end of the third.
Michigan scored the first two goals of the final quarter, cutting the deficit to two with 3:18 to play. Stephens ended the run with the assist from Bryant with just under two minutes left to play. After a Fresno State offensive foul and turnover, Michigan called a quick timeout and again executed the play on its next possession, cutting the Bulldog lead to two with 51 seconds remaining. Fresno State didn't do anything with its final offensive possession, focusing on the defensive in the final seconds. Michigan got a shot off that was knocked down by Bryant before reaching the cage.
Up Next
Polopalooza continues tomorrow. Fresno State takes on No. 10 Indiana at 11 a.m. PT and No. 8 UC Irvine at 5 p.m. PT. More information and the complete Polopalooza schedule can be found on the tournament central.
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