» Hawaii led throughout and now leads the season series 2-1 over U-M.
» Michigan will play No. 10-ranked UC Davis Saturday (Feb. 26) at 1:30 p.m. PST.
» Kayla Barone, Erin Neustrom and Maddie O’Reilly had two goals apiece vs. Hawaii.
Site: Irvine, Calif. (Anteater Aquatics Complex)
Event: Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Day 2 of 3)
Score: #5 Hawaii 10, #6 Michigan 8
Records: U-M (8-6), Hawaii (8-2)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 26 — vs. #10 UC Davis (Irvine, Calif.), 1:30 p.m. PST
IRVINE, Calif. — The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan water polo team came up just short against No. 5-ranked Hawaii Saturday morning (Feb. 26), falling 10-8 in a winners’ bracket match of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
Michigan will be back in the pool Saturday afternoon for a 1:30 p.m. PST start against No. 10 UC Davis.
#5 Hawaii 10, #6 Michigan 8
Trailing by two or three goals for much of the game, Michigan ensured that the season’s third meeting between the Wolverines and the Rainbow Wahine would come down to the wire. Michigan trailed 9-6 going into the fourth quarter but drew within a single goal and had the ball with 1:18 to play. However, the Wolverines could not convert, and Hawaii put the game away on an even-strength goal with 25 seconds remaining.
Michigan fell behind 2-0 before Kayla Barone got U-M on the board on an assist from Maddy Steere. Erin Neustrom then fired a shot to the back of the net, assisted by Maddie O’Reilly, at the 1:22 mark to make it a one-goal game. But Hawaii scored 20 seconds later and again on its next possession to take a three-goal lead into the second period.
Michigan cut the deficit to two at 6-4 late in the second quarter when O’Reilly scored with two minutes to play and Ava Morrant followed that up with a marker at 1:02. Still, Hawaii again took momentum, scoring on a power play with 32 seconds left.
In the third, U-M again cut the lead to two when Barone took a feed from Morrant on a 6-on-5 advantage with just under five minutes to play. The teams traded goals again, with Neustrom’s tally assisted by O’Reilly, but Hawaii scored again to keep U-M at bay after three quarters, 9-6.
Mounting its comeback in the fourth, Steere made it a 9-7 game at the 6:40 mark after a steal from O’Reilly put her in prime position. Neustrom then drew a foul, and Steere scored on a 6-on-5 with 3:47 to go to set up the final dramatic finish.
Barone, Steere and Neustrom all had two goals, while Alex Brown made 10 saves.
