How do you deal with lvl2 water elementals as UD in the early game?

Got no problem playing against NE. Orc is tolerable (wyverns can be strong but it's not impossible to deal with)

But how do you deal with lvl2 water elementals?

I go with ghoul opening with a variety of heroes but I simply cannot deal with lvl2 water elementals

My micro is obvioulsy not the best but literally my ghouls are dying constantly. Don't even get me started when the AM gets some mana items and summon 3 water elementals in my main base and my ghouls just melt away.