IRVINE, CALIF. – No. 7 Arizona State water polo (14-4) squared off against No. 8 Michigan (12-6) in the 9th place game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, but a sluggish start was the difference in the defensive battle, as ASU eventually fell 9-8 to the Wolverines despite the late comeback effort.
Sunday's game was the third game in the last four meetings between the two teams to be decided by just one goal. In the 20 meetings all-time, 12 of the games had been decided by two or fewer goals, with just two meetings having a victory margin of five or more goals.