HONOLULU - No. 2 USC edged No. 4 Hawai`i, 9-7, snapping the Rainbow Wahine's 14-game winning streak today in the final regular season Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game of the season at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

A crowd of nearly 450 witnessed USC take an early 1-0 lead on Brittany Hayes goal at 5:15 on a shot from on top. UH All-American Beth Novick tied it at one finding the left corner of the net on a power play. But USC came down on the ensuing possession to reclaim the lead on a lob shot by Ezster Gyori. USC took a 3-1 advantage on a skip shot by Lauren Wenger. But Novick's second goal on a lob shot at 2:59 cut the deficit to one. Monika Kruszona then knotted it up at three on fast break skip shot at 2:15.

In the second quarter, USC went up 4-3 on a 4-meter penalty shot by Hayes. UH's Anna Sieprath tied it on a 10-meter lob shot at 3:59. The Rainbow Wahine took lead into halftime on a back-handed, two-meter shot by Novick on a dish by Iefke Van Belkum at 3:18.

USC tied it in the third quarter on a goal by Moriah Van Norman inside the 2-meter area at 6:06. The Trojans had a chance to retake the lead but couldn't take advantage of a 6-on-4. USC finally retook the lead on Hayes third goal from on top as she skipped in a shot finding the lower right portion of the net. UH's Kruszona skipped in her second goal with 10 seconds left as both teams were tied at six heading to the fourth.

USC's Erika Figge drew first blood in the fourth quarter taking a 7-6 lead on a power play goal. Figge put the Trojans up by two on a fast break goal. Wenger made it 9-6 skipping in a shot from on top. UH closed the gap to 9-7 as Van Belkum skipped in a shot on a power play with 1:15 to play to cap the scoring.

UH goalie Meike De Nooy made four stops and picked up two steals in the contest, while her counterpart from USC Sarah Mix stopped seven shots.

It was the final home game for eight UH seniors - Kimberley Bennett, Tracy Andersen, Darcy Scott-Hosaka, Colleen Schiman, Danielle Mulford, Beth Novick, Malia Tarayao, and Audrey Harrer.

Hawai`i falls to 18-7 overall and 9-3 in the MPSF. UH had their 14-game winning streak snapped with the loss. USC improves to 21-3 and 11-1 in the MPSF.

Hawai`i is the No. 4 seed at next week's MPSF Tournament in Berkeley, Calif. The Rainbow Wahine draw the No. 13 seed Pacific slated for April 27 at 6 a.m. HST.

	

Scoring by Quarters

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4		Final

USC	3	1	2	3	-	9

Hawai`i	3	2	1	1	-	7



Goals by USC:   Hayes (3), Figge (2), Wenger (2), Gyori, Van Norman.

USC Goalie Saves:  Mix (7).

Goals by UH:  Novick (3), Kruszona (2), Sieprath, Van Belkum.

UH Goalie Saves:  De Nooy (6).