Michigan Pushes Past No. 10 ASU in OT to Sweep Cross Conference Challenge

Sunday, January 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

9:00 AM MT

Michigan

4-0

Arizona State

3-1

Michigan

Arizona State

(U-M Athletic Communications)

Michigan Pushes Past No. 10 ASU in OT to Sweep Cross Conference Challenge

1/15/2023 2:49:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Bridgette Underwood

» Kata Utassy and Sammi Monroe each earned hat tricks to help Michigan defeat Arizona State.
» Ashley O'Neill scored the game-winning goal with 45 seconds left from ten meters out.
» Alex Brown collected 10 blocks to earn the win in goal.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 7-ranked University og Michigan water polo team defeated No. 10 Arizona State 11-10 in overtime on Sunday (Jan. 15) at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center to wrap its time at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge. With the win, the Wolverines finished its season-opening road trip at 4-0.

The first quarter of the game was back-and-forth, with Michigan and Arizona State (3-1) being called for back-to-back penalties. Kata Utassy was the first to capitalize to give U-M an early 1-0 lead before the Sun Devils equalized two minutes later. Michigan again capitalized on and ASU penalty, this time it was Ava Morrant finding the back of the net to give the Maize and Blue the lead back. Arizona State then took advantage of a penalty of its own to tie the game at 2 after one quarter.

Lola Ciruli scored the first goal of the second frame, but ASU equalized 40 seconds later and added two more goals to pull to a 5-3 lead. Sammi Monroe ended the Sun Devils run with a goal of her own with one second left in the quarter to get Michigan within one goal, 5-4, at the half.

Arizona State struck first in the third quarter, opening its lead to two before another Monroe tally off a cross-pool pass from Ashley O'Neill. Utassy scored back-to-back goals to tie it up at 7 with two minutes left in the quarter. Grace Harbaugh lobbed the ball over and past the ASU goalie to give Michigan the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Erin Neustrom added a goal two minutes in on a two-meter ball to give Michigan a 9-7 advantage with six minutes left in the regulation. The Sun Devils came storming back with a pair of goals to tie it 9. Alex Brown came up big in the final seconds, stopping what would have been the game-winner to push the game into overtime.

In the first overtime, Monroe scored once again on a five-meter shot to put Michigan up 10-9 before ASU drew even with two and a half minutes left in overtime. O'Neill, with 45 seconds left, fired a shot from 10 meters out and beat the ASU goalie to give U-M an 11-10 win over Arizona State.

Next up for the Wolverines is another West Coast trip, this time stopping in Fresno, Calf., for Bulldog Fest on Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 21-22). Michigan will take on host Fresno State at 10 a.m. PST and Hawaii at 1:30 p.m. PST on Saturday (Jan. 21) before facing Cal on Sunday (Jan. 22) at 9:30 a.m. PST.