HONOLULU - The No. 5-ranked University of Hawai`i women's water polo team dropped its first home contest of the season today to No. 2 Stanford, 12-6, in a rain-soaked Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
With today's loss, Hawai`i falls to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in the MPSF, while Stanford goes to 14-3 and 7-1.
Stanford's Katie Hansen put the Cardinal on top early with a pair of goals in the first quarter with in the first three minutes. MPSF Player of the Week Iefke Van Belkum cut the deficit in half with a late goal just under the one-minute mark.
The Cardinal's Lauren Silver started the scoring in the second quarter at the 6:38 mark, but UH countered quickly with Kelly Mason dumping one through 21 seconds later. After that, it was all Cardinal, rattling five unanswered goals and taking a commanding 8-3 halftime lead.
Stanford's Christina Hewko scored at the 5:32 mark in the third, but UH bounced back with Lisa van Raalte back-handing one in from the 2-meter area. Cardinal Scotti Shafer then took a desperation carom off the goal and lobbed it in with two seconds in the third to put Stanford up 10-4.
UH came out strong in the fourth quarter as Van Belkum and Amy Logan posted quick scores to pull to within four, 10-6. But Stanford capped the scoring with a pair of goals by Hansen to close out the match, 12-6.
Today's match is part of a 10-match home stand for UH that includes three exhibition matches. UH's next plays a split doubleheader March 29 against No. 15 Hartwick at 9:00 a.m. and New Zealand at 3:30 p.m. at the DKAC.
Game 17 - 4:30 p.m. HST
Scoring by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final
Stanford 2 6 2 2 - 12
Hawai`i 1 2 1 2 - 6
Goals by HAW: Iefke Van Belkum (3), Kelly Mason, Amy Logan, Lisa van Raalte.
HAW Goalie Saves: Jamie Wendell (3).
Goals by STAN: Katie Hansen (6), Lauren Silver (3), Scotti Shafer (2), Christina Hewko.
STAN Goalie Saves: Meredith McColl (3).
Records: Hawai`i (10-7, 5-3 MPSF), Stanford (14-3, 7-1 MPSF)
