It was a bittersweet ending for the No. 9 ASU water polo team as it finished the season one goal shy of a fifth-place finish in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The Sun Devils fell to No. 5 California 7-6 on Sunday at the Anteater Aquatic Complex.
Overall, ASU (15-13) finished sixth in the conference tournament, the highest placing in school history.
Now, the Sun Devils will have to await word from the NCAA to see if they are selected as an at-large team for the NCAA championships.
The Sun Devils came into the match Sunday with an opportunity at fifth place following a marathon upset over No. 7 UC Irvine, 13-12, in four overtimes.
Cal opened the game by taking a 3-0 lead early, but a goal by Sun Devil freshman Rowie Webster with three seconds remaining in the half brought ASU to within one goal.
Cal scored to go ahead 7-6 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter and held on.
The one-goal loss was ASU's fifth of the season.
Webster netted 15 goals on the weekend, resetting the all-time season mark at 63. The previous record was 51.
Track and field
The ASU women downed NAU and UA and the men split against the schools in the annual Double Duel meets in Tucson this weekend.
The women defeated NAU 118-72, while the men won 132-40. The women completed the sweep with a 113-80 win over UA, while the men dropped a 116-86 decision.
The women won their sixth straight meet by taking home victories in 11 of the 16 events.
Jacquelyn Johnson (100-meter) and Latosha Wallace (400-meter) swept the hurdle events before joining Christina Hardeman and Bridgette Williams to win the 4x400-meter relay.
In the field, Sarah Stevens captured victories in the shot put and the hammer throw.
April Kubishta won the women's pole vault, clearing 4.10 meters to tie ASU's school record.
On the men's side UA took home the team title, despite the efforts of junior Domenik Peterson. Peterson won the 100 and 200-meters before anchoring the 4x400-meter relay to victory.
The meet was ASU's last before the Pac-10 Championships, which begin May 6 in Eugene, Ore.
Reach the reporter at william.hayes@asu.edu.
