LA JOLLA, Calif. - The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i women's water polo team escaped with a 7-5 non-conference victory over No. 17 UC San Diego, 7-5, Wednesday at the Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Rainbow Wahine (15-6, 7-3 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) evened their record to 1-1 on their current seven-match road trip.

Kelly Mason and Leonie Van Der Molen each scored two goals to lead UH. Anna Sieprath, Carmen Eggens, and Megan O'Linn also found the net.

After giving up the first goal of the match to the Tritons, the Rainbow Wahine never trailed the rest of the way. UH tied the score at 1 through the first period and out-scored UCSD 4-2 in the second, with a pair of goals by Mason and Van Der Molen, to take a 5-3 halftime lead.

From there, goalie Sara Gralitzer held the Tritons to only one goal each in the third and fourth quarters. The freshman, who started her third straight match in the net, finished with eight saves.

The Tritons closed to within 5-4 and held the Rainbow Wahine scoreless in the third, but UH scored on a goal by Eggens halfway through the fourth for a 6-4 lead. Janice Aguilar pulled UCSD to within 6-5 with 2:51 left but O'Linn's score on UH's next possession sealed the victory.

The Rainbow Wahine continue their road trip with MPSF matches at Long Beach State, April 11 and USC, April 12.

Match Results
Hawai`i 1-4-0-2 = 7
UC San Diego 1-2-1-1 = 5

Hawai`i Goals: Kelly Mason 2, Leoni Van Der Molen 2, Anna Sieprath 1, Carmen Eggens 1, Megan O'Linn 1
UC San Diego Goals: Nicole Hermann 1, Emilia Halmay 1, Janice Aguilar 1, Sydney Gstettenbauer 1, Stephanie Heinrich 1

Hawai`i Saves: Sara Gralitzer 8
UC San Diego Saves: Kim Hockett 11

-UH-