Box Score | Photo Gallery

HONOLULU – The No. 11 University of Hawai'i women's water polo team pulled off a dramatic 9-8 overtime victory over No. 12 Long Beach State in the Big West opener for both teams Friday night at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
 
Lightning struck twice for the Rainbow Wahine (12-5, 1-0 BWC). Caity Lopes da Silva scored the game-winner with 26 seconds left in the overtime period. That came after Emily Carr sent the game into overtime with a rousing match-tying goal with 23 seconds left in regulation.
 
Carr finished with a hat trick of three goals as did freshman Claire Nixon. Paula Chillida Esforzado also added a pair of goals for the Rainbow Wahine who successfully began defense of their 2013 Big West title.
 
UH maintained the win after enduring a strange ending. After the match was seemingly over, the teams were asked to return to the pool with two seconds added back to the clock. Long Beach State (15-7, 0-1 BWC), however, could not capitalize on the final possession.   
 
The Rainbow Wahine next hosts a pair of non-conference matches tomorrow. UH will play No. 14 Indiana at noon before taking on top-ranked USC at 6:00 p.m.
 
Scoring By Period
                  1          2          3          4          O1       O2             F        
LBSU       1          2          2          2          1          0    =          8
UH            2          2          0          3          1          1    =          9
 
UH Scoring: Claire Nixon (3), Emily Carr (3), Paula Chillida Esforzado (2), Caity Lopes da Silva
UH Saves: Amy Carlson 11
 
LBSU Scoring: Christina Kostia (2), Chelsea Parks (2), Coriann Snyder (2), Hillary Veselik, Jessica Brooks
LBSU Saves: Kelly Ringel 13