SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - No. 9 ranked Hawai`i women's water polo squad knocked off No. 14 Cal State Northridge, 11-5, and No. 7 California, 9-6, today in pool play at the UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Invitational at the Rec Center Pool.

In the nightcap for UH, the Rainbow Wahine never trailed in the match against the Golden Bears. UH jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Monika Kruszona at the 5:39 mark in the first.

Cal added a goal to tie it at one, but it was short lived as UH's Kruszona added her second goal of the period with five second remaining.

The two teams traded goal up until halftime, with UH leading 5-4 at the break.

UH then went on a 4-0 run late into the fourth quarter to take a commanding 9-4 lead. Cal added a two lated goals in the closing two minutes to cap the scoring, 9-6, in favor of UH.

Hawai`i's leading goal scorers were Kruszona (2), Shannon Carroll (2), Beth Novick (2), and Stephanie Pottenger (2).

The first match of the day between Hawai`i (3-5, 2-2 MPSF) and the Matadors also counted as a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match.

CSUN jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Ashley Hays and Allison Brookes before UH's Beth Novick cut the deficit in half with a goal at the 2:58 mark in the first.

Hawai`i tied the game at two apiece on a goal by Shannon Carroll at 1:05 remaining in the first. CSUN's Brookes would add another goal to reclaim the lead for CSUN, but UH would counter and take the lead at the end of the first adding two more goals.

Hawai`i then scored three unanswered goals in the second quarter, two by Monika Kruszona and another by Novick, to take a 7-3 lead at the end of two.

The Rainbow Wahine closed out its scoring with four more goals in the third to put the match out of reach. Stephanie Pottenger added a pair of goals for UH in the match.

UH goalie Meike De Nooy came up with nine stops on the afternoon.

Hawai`i enters the championship round Saturday.

Match No. 8 (Group H)
Team 1 2 3 4 OT Total
Hawai`i 4 3 4 0 11
CS Northridge 3 0 1 1 5

Goals
Hawai`i - Iefke Van Belkum -3, Monika Kruszona -2, Beth Novick -2, Stephanie Pottenger -2, Tracy Andersen, Shannon Carroll
CSUN - Allison Brookes -2, Chari Christopher, Ashley Hays, Lynzy Klein

Goalie Saves
Hawai`i - Meike De Nooy -9
CSUN - Elizabeth Geiger -5