HONOLULU - The No. 5-ranked University of Hawai`i women's water polo team opened the 2006 home schedule with a 10-6 victory over No. 13 UC Irvine in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Hawai`i improved to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in the MPSF, while UC Irvine fell to 8-8 and 1-3.

The Rainbow Wahine took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Anna Sieprath, but the Anteaters answered with a pair of goals by Jessica Lewis and Gianna Rossi to lead 2-1 after the first quarter.

Hawai`i then got goals from Kelly Mason, Sieprath, and Iefke Van Belkum in the second while UCI's Robyn Kaake also scored to give UH a 4-3 lead at the half.

UCI's Lewis tied the score at four with 4:15 remaining in the third before UH rattled off three unanswered goals from Mason, Sieprath, and Mari Yogi to go up 7-4 heading to the final quarter.

UCI pulled to within one on scores from Rossi and Kaake, but UH kept the pressure on scoring three more times to close out the match, 10-6.

Today's match is part of a 10-match home stand for UH that also includes three exhibition matches. UH's next opponent is Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at the DKAC March 18 at 4:30 p.m.

	

Game 13 - 4:30 p.m. HST

Scoring by Quarters	1	2	3	4		Final

UC Irvine		2	1	1	2	-	6

Hawai`i		1	3	3	3	-	10



Goals by HAW:   Anna Sieprath (3), Iefke Van Belkum (3), Kelly Mason (2), Mari Yogi, Brittany Dames.

HAW Goalie Saves:   Meike De Nooy (9).

Goals by UCI:   Robyn Kaake (2), Gianna Rossi (2), Jessica Lewis (2).

UCI Goalie Saves:   Lauren Machanis (5).

Records:  Hawai`i (7-6, 3-2 MPSF), UC Irvine (8-8, 1-3 MPSF)

-UH-