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STOCKTON, Calif. — The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan fell 8-7 in overtime to host/No. 15 University of the Pacific at the Douglass M. Eberhart Aquatics Center.

Kata Utassy and Erin Neustrom led Michigan with three goals apiece, while Utassy also tallied two assists. Alex Brown collected six saves and Utassy recorded two steals.

Neustrom got the Maize and Blue started with a bullet to the back of the net just 20 seconds into the first quarter. Pacific equalized a minute later before Utassy fired a skip shot past the goalie to give Michigan the lead back. With 52 seconds left in the first, the Tigers evened it up at two-all before heading into the second quarter.

Neustrom lobed a shot over the goalie for a goal on a counterattack led by Elise Walker to give Michigan a 3-2 advantage early in the second. The Tigers were able to sneak it past Brown, but Utassy gave Michigan the lead back, firing a shot to the top-right corner. With 16 seconds left on the first-half clock, Pacific took advantage of a penalty shot to tie it up at 4 heading into the half.

Libby Alsemgeest got the ball moving in the second half with a goal right over the keeper before the Tigers even it up at five-all. Ava Morrant drew the goalie of out her goal and dropped the ball off to Utassy for an easy goal to give U-M the lead back before Pacific tied it up 17 seconds later. The Tigers took their first lead of the game after a point-blank shot to the back of the net.

In the final quarter of play, Neustrom evened things at seven-all with four minutes left in regulation. The defense was the name of the game in the fourth quarter as Michigan held Pacific scoreless to force overtime.

The Tigers struck first in the first half of overtime with nine seconds left before the second half of overtime. Pacific was able to hold blank Michigan in the extra periods to take the game 8-7.

Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletics Communications

Collegiate Water Polo Association